Search found 332 matches
- Tue Jun 28, 2005 11:22 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: On/Off using a serial port?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1746
On/Off using a serial port?
I'd like to build a simple device that I can plug 120V appliances into with <= 10A draw and cut/restore power using RS232 (and a serial port on my PC).<p>I know X10 has lots of neat stuff for this, can it be done more simply (cheaply)?
- Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:51 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: PS2 to serial port conversion
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4048
Re: PS2 to serial port conversion
Is this what I'm looking for? Schematic<p>Looks like I could build one for under $10.
- Fri Apr 15, 2005 4:25 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: PS2 to serial port conversion
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4048
Re: PS2 to serial port conversion
Actually, if I wasn't such a spend thrift, I'd buy scanners with serial interfaces from one of those guys and be done. However, I've cheaped out and purchased 7 declawed CueCats on EBay. I do have a single Symbol LS-1004 with a serial interface for which I've written a simple POS system. However, I'...
- Fri Apr 15, 2005 1:11 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: PS2 to serial port conversion
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4048
Re: PS2 to serial port conversion
What would be the best way to approach the conversion? Microprocessor?
- Thu Apr 14, 2005 3:48 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: PS2 to serial port conversion
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4048
Re: PS2 to serial port conversion
I've tried one of the passive connectors (I have three or four), but it doesn't seem to power the scanner. Can I remedy this by sending one of the pins 5 volts without creating a smoke show?
- Thu Apr 14, 2005 12:48 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: PS2 to serial port conversion
- Replies: 11
- Views: 4048
PS2 to serial port conversion
Hi All,<p>I have a number of keyboard-wedge PS2 interface barcode scanners that I'd like to adapt for use with the DB9 serial port (RS232) on my PC. I don't mind if the change is permanent. Is there a way to do this?<p>I'd like to trigger events in my UI based upon when a barcode is scanned. When us...
- Sun Oct 17, 2004 8:13 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: voltage cutoff for my car radio/battery
- Replies: 11
- Views: 10270
Re: voltage cutoff for my car radio/battery
I plan to place the circuit in line with the radio only. It won't draw anywhere near 15 amps.<p>It'd be great if you sent me your circuit design.<p>Thanks!
- Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:34 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: voltage cutoff for my car radio/battery
- Replies: 11
- Views: 10270
Re: voltage cutoff for my car radio/battery
With some experimentation, I will be able to figure out the minimum voltage required to start the car.<p>The radio is a late model Sony, the battery relatively new, and the alternator is charging it just fine. Can anyone propose a cutoff circuit to get me started?
- Fri Oct 08, 2004 8:33 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: voltage cutoff for my car radio/battery
- Replies: 11
- Views: 10270
voltage cutoff for my car radio/battery
I have an old VW that often sits for weeks without being driven. The clock/memory 12V radio feed (yellow wire) seems to be a bit of a hog. When I disconnect it (pull out the fuse), I can start the car after leaving it sitting for a month or two. However, when I leave it connected, I'm lucky if it st...
- Wed Feb 11, 2004 8:24 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: eliminate static electricity from my burr grinder
- Replies: 20
- Views: 10963
Re: eliminate static electricity from my burr grinder
Thanks for all the suggestions!<p>In the end, I went low-tech. I'm just adding a teaspoon of water to the bean hopper just prior to starting the grinder. Works great!<p>Still, I would much rather have gone with something Doc-Emmett-Brown-looking that made the wife nervous when I used it. Oh well!
- Fri Dec 05, 2003 8:12 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: eliminate static electricity from my burr grinder
- Replies: 20
- Views: 10963
Re: eliminate static electricity from my burr grinder
RonH is on to something. Maybe I should start a new thread entitled "electric starter for my gas grill" or "ignition coil rapid trigger circuit"<p>If a piezo electric device can do it so can lots of windings, right?
- Thu Dec 04, 2003 1:05 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: eliminate static electricity from my burr grinder
- Replies: 20
- Views: 10963
Re: eliminate static electricity from my burr grinder
It appears my only options are low tech, huh? Oh well, I guess moisture and grounds straps shall be my allies as I grind coffee.<p>I was really hoping for suggestions on a gizmo to build that would do something like what the Zerostat gun does. Thought it would go better with my propeller hat than wo...
- Wed Dec 03, 2003 11:39 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: eliminate static electricity from my burr grinder
- Replies: 20
- Views: 10963
Re: eliminate static electricity from my burr grinder
Found a link where a guy describes using a Zerostat gun to eliminate the static elec. in his burr grinder:<p> burr grinder <p>"Zerostat gun that uses a piezo electric gizmo to generate a neutralizing charge". Can I build such an animal? Will it cost less than the $40 they want for a ZeroSt...
- Wed Dec 03, 2003 11:24 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: eliminate static electricity from my burr grinder
- Replies: 20
- Views: 10963
Re: eliminate static electricity from my burr grinder
I was kinda hoping for a static sucker circuit of sorts. Something that either pulled the charge off, no matter how little or increased it enough such that a grounding to earth would dissipate it. Don't know a whole bunch about the properties of static electricity, but was looking for something a li...
- Wed Dec 03, 2003 2:18 am
- Forum: Computer Programming
- Topic: ICL 9520 POS display
- Replies: 1
- Views: 3089
Re: ICL 9520 POS display
I toyed with a similar unit and remained foiled by the cabling until I finally woke up. I was using a straight thru cable rather than a null-modem cable. Maybe your problem is this simple?<p>If you are sure you have a good connection, the hex strings the unit expects to see are usually pretty simple...