VOTE for parallel port relay control in ME

**Mastero** · 10-03-2003, 04:38 AM

YES i got the relay thing working with ME.

Works in external application so no GPS works great i can control the a/c from ME noww

while music is playing.

A million thanx to confussed for helping me with this coding ..

Cheers
Mastero

**guitar333** · 10-03-2003, 12:54 PM

nice mastero, so can you control everything on a/c (speed, path, on/off etc.) or just on/off and what vehicle do you have?

**Mastero** · 10-04-2003, 01:33 AM

A/C controls 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 a/c on/off, amps on/off, antenna on/off, neon on/off.

Mercedes C 250 D

Just made the code to the ME so when i go radio then the antenna goes up and when i leave the radio the antenna goes down ..

cheers
Mastero

**SiGmA_X** · 10-05-2003, 06:42 AM

Mastero, what type of control board are you using, and would you be willing to release that software? This sounds VERY much like something I should be doing!

**Ricky327** · 10-05-2003, 07:23 AM

I guess hes using a parallel port relay board. Typicaly just a transitor and a relay connected directly to the D0-D7 of the parallel port.

You can build one quite easily. Use darlington epitaxial transistor such as TIP120, it comes with a built in protection diode for simplified design. Add an opto isolator if you want. Up to you how you want it really, whats important is the control specification is standardised for particular software

The problem with this simple design is, if some program start playing with your parallel port then your relay will react to it even though its not supposed to.

**Mastero** · 10-05-2003, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by SiGmA_X

Mastero, what type of control board are you using, and would you be willing to release that software? This sounds VERY much like something I should be doing!

http://kitsrus.com/pdf/k74.pdf

My relay board is home made .. based on the above design.

And as for the software for controling the relay from ME sure no problem.

shall make the exe and post here !

Cheers !

Mastero

**funt4stic** · 10-06-2003, 09:17 AM

vote yes !

**MeanGT** · 10-07-2003, 07:07 AM

I just found this,, it is the board that Mastero mentioned, but already assembled, for $30 it is not bad!

http://www.electronickits.com/kit/co...lec/ck1601.htm

**OdysseyPC** · 10-07-2003, 08:13 AM

With the advent and scalability of USB, I am now off the parallel and serial ports altogether since i've recently discovered the enormous potential with this elegant port.

For you Windows variants 98 and above this port is accessible via standard API. At only $4.95AU for the USB uController it's my new baby. I've just designed a USB modular relay board that can extend the standard 8 relays upto a highly impractical 32768 (James Bond's Aston Martin can't even handle this amount of peripherals)

Anyways with the new Nano-ITX on its way I was not prepared to overlook it's sexy small profile simply becuase it contained no serial or parallel option to operate my peripherals. It's a new era for hi-speed I/O I for one have jumped on this bandwagon.

Enjoy
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'96 VS Holden Commodore Series II Executive
Eden Mini-ITX 800, 7002TS
384MB RAM, 16GB HDD, 16X DVD
2500+ MP3's, All Family Guy + Southpark