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SCN5 / SCN6 Hardware Thread

Discussion in 'SimTools compatible interfaces' started by egoexpress, Sep 29, 2008.

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  1. Mr Burns

    Mr Burns New Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    Excellent :D


    Mr Burns, Dec 3, 2008
    #141
  2. Ferrari_Man

    Ferrari_Man Member Gold Contributor

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    Hey..

    I have just ordered 2 to SCN5s and they er on the way, now Iam looking at converters for them.

    This one seems to handle both usb and rs232 to rs485...
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PC-USB-to-Serial- ... 240%3A1318

    Would like to hear you opinion on this one.

    Ferrari_man
    Ferrari_Man, Dec 4, 2008
    #142
  3. egoexpress

    egoexpress Active Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    Great find! They look very suitable, and the price is amazing! I'd recommend you to try them!

    Regards
    Christian
    egoexpress, Dec 4, 2008
    #143
  4. tronicgr

    tronicgr

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread


    With price like that, I just ordered two!!! Nice Find! :clap:
    It uses FTDI FT232R chip and MAX485 transceiver chip, therefore it must be good!

    Thanks,
    Thanos
    tronicgr, Dec 4, 2008
    #144
  5. Ferrari_Man

    Ferrari_Man Member Gold Contributor

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    Sounds good... I also ordered 2 and then we will see how it goes..

    Ferrari_man
    Ferrari_Man, Dec 4, 2008
    #145
  6. Mr Burns

    Mr Burns New Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    I am happy to report that I got the cheap ebay adapters ($13) to work. I will post some more later. :clap:
    Mr Burns, Dec 10, 2008
    #146
  7. Mr Burns

    Mr Burns New Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    Why are resistors needed on the ilk 24V wire? It seems to make no difference.
    Also, no resistors needed for the adapter, they work without.
    Mr Burns, Dec 10, 2008
    #147
  8. egoexpress

    egoexpress Active Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    Those additional resistors help to stabilize the signal when using long cables (>1,5m).
    egoexpress, Dec 10, 2008
    #148
  9. Mr Burns

    Mr Burns New Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    Can there be any damage or problems if no resistors are used and everything seems to work ok even with cables longer than 1.5 m?

    Mr Burns, Dec 10, 2008
    #149
  10. egoexpress

    egoexpress Active Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    As long as it works fine you dont need resistors. However I think it would not be that difficult to place them anyway. In case you'll have some trouble, you could be sure that it is not caused by a missing resistor at least ;D
    egoexpress, Dec 10, 2008
    #150
  11. Mr Burns

    Mr Burns New Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    I discovered that the serial card is allocated the same irq as something from intel that relates to the video card (irq 17 in my case) and that is what is causing all the crashes. Unfortunately I can't change the irq on an acpi system like windows unless I go through a million workarounds and that might make other stuff not work.

    But I assume the adapters will work with a serial card just fine if anybody wants to use them.

    Didn't get to test the speed yet, just that scn are detected and centered (via usb-serial).
    What are normal/optimal updates/second (a range?). Maybe 100 is too much and 20 not enough?

    Somehow related, I wonder if a different serial card will always use the same irq on the same motherboard?
    Mr Burns, Dec 10, 2008
    #151
  12. bvillersjr

    bvillersjr Active Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    You can set the IRQ for your COM Ports (assuming that you are still using the same card from TigerDirect) by going to your control panel --> Device Manager --> Ports --> And setting the properties of the MosPort COM Port in question. Also, most Intel motherboard consuled IRQ's can be altered in BIOS.

    For my USB<-->RS485 Adapters, I was able to make the same IRQ and COM adjustments.

    I changed both my COM port #'s and my IRQ's through the device manager in Vista and haven't had any lockups. :cheers:
    bvillersjr, Dec 10, 2008
    #152
  13. egoexpress

    egoexpress Active Member

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    egoexpress, Dec 10, 2008
    #153
  14. Mr Burns

    Mr Burns New Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    Maybe this picture should go in the first post. I have connected the wires this way, added resistors and everything works 100%.


    http://www.x-simulator.de/forum/download/file.php?id=1756&mode=view


    I am a little concerned about the way it powers up, they both retract at the same time, but then one side powers up super fast, so the seat leans heavy the other way, then the other actuators powers up. (this is all happening in under 1 second), but maybe it would be better if they both come up at the same time?
    Mr Burns, Dec 11, 2008
    #154
  15. bvillersjr

    bvillersjr Active Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    Please re-read the SCN5 Hardware AND Software threads. This startup homing / calibration has already been discussed and a new plugin exists as of today that I have tested all evening. It can be found on the first page of the SCN5 Software thread.
    bvillersjr, Dec 11, 2008
    #155
  16. Mr Burns

    Mr Burns New Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    Yes, I just looked at it. Much better :thbup:
    Mr Burns, Dec 11, 2008
    #156
  17. bvillersjr

    bvillersjr Active Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    What adapters did you wind up with, and how many outputs/sec are they reporting in the SCN5 Plugin?
    bvillersjr, Dec 11, 2008
    #157
  18. Fahim

    Fahim Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    Dear sirs,

    Hope you are well:

    Read every page of your family project. Well done.

    This is non auto:
    http://cgi.ebay.ie/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... AQ:IE:1123

    This is 2ms:
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0313580120

    Which would be best?
    And would I need two of these?


    Also I will be ordering the actuators soon. Money for the actuator is no obstacle but performance is.

    SCN5:
    Do I get 100mm or 150mm?
    I read a member with 150mm not been able to get it working first time with x-sim. Maybe I am wrong.

    Kind Regards,

    Fahim
    Fahim, Dec 11, 2008
    #158
  19. Mr Burns

    Mr Burns New Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    The ones from earlier in this thread that I took pictures of the insides. After connecting everything according to sirnoname's 2 power supply picture they are detected. No testing or anything yet, I just got done with all the wire connections and reading about the software now. Used a $2 serial-usb adapter for each one, so the cost is $9 each.

    A lot of sellers on ebay for this adapter are from China, but you can find some in the US, it is maybe $1 more.

    Mr Burns, Dec 11, 2008
    #159
  20. bvillersjr

    bvillersjr Active Member

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    Re: SCN5 Hardware Thread

    At this point, the only adapter that I can recommend are these http://www.trossenrobotics.com/store/p/5889-USB-to-RS485-Connector.aspx. I am able to achieve between 130 and 150 updates per second with them. They are slightly more expensive, but I think they may be worth it.

    At this point, I am the only one to post performance numbers. I have seen other have difficuly with lockups, and noone else has posted any performance numbers. I have had no lockups, and am getting good performance. I'm not saying that there isn't a better solution out there, but I am saying that this solution is the only one known to perform at this time.

    With regard to actuators, if you can afford them, then get the 150mm actuators.

    Welcome!
    bvillersjr, Dec 11, 2008
    #160
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