USB I/O Adapter

RAY MULKEY

I though I saw a project for a USB I/O Adapter on the Parallax site, but I can't find it now. Does anyone know of one? Ray

Mike Green

You can download the schematics for several of Parallax's products that use a USB to serial adapter and essentially copy that.· In particular, look at the Propeller Protoboard.· Try the USB2SER adapter.· I'm not sure if the schematic is included in its documentation, but look.· Most documentation is linked from the webstore page for the product.
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RAY MULKEY

What I'm looking for is an adapter that will allow outputs from the USB adapter to control relays or relay inputs that will send a signal to the computer.

Steve Joblin

Do you mean the USB2SER? http://www.parallax.com/Store/Microcontrollers/BASICStampModules/tabid/134/txtSearch/usb2ser/List/1/ProductID/32/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName

Mike Green

You will need some kind of microcontroller to receive and interpret the characters coming from the USB adapter and then drive the relay(s). Most microcontrollers cannot directly drive most relays, so you'll need some kind of driver, either a transistor or a special IC for this purpose.

The DC-16 from EFX-TEK (www.efx-tek.com/topics/dc-16.html) will do this very nicely along with the USB2SER adapter. Download
the documentation from the linked page.

Javalin

or just use something like:

http://www.robot-electronics.co.uk/acatalog/Relay_Modules.html

you might have to poll status rather than getting an interuptt. Dunno - I've not used one (yet).

James

kjennejohn

Hi.
Just do a search on Google using "usb relay control". This will find you oodles of possibilities.

My personal favorite is the LabJack:
www.labjack.com/results.php

Not terribly expensive. I have the U12, $129 in single quantity. The basic unit does analog measurements, two analog voltages out, counter, and monitors digital levels, in and out. It has a relay board as an option. This is USB, and comes with a limited DAQ Factory control software. Check it out.

Happy holidays!
kenjj

Zoot

In the states, in dollars (not Euros) -- $97 acroname.com/robotics/parts/R296-USBRLY08.html

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When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. -- HST

pwillard

Here is a D.I.Y. Solution

http://www.obdev.at/products/avrusb/automator.html

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There's nothing like a new idea and a warm soldering iron.