Anyone interested in serial controlled Relay/Input card? - Page 6

necrolyte · 09-05-2004, 08:35 PM

Here's a site I found for 8 relays via parallel port. I have one of the boards and it works great, comes with software for windows too. No inputs though. Hopefully this site will be back up and working soon.

http://www.mobilecpu.net/showitem.asp?q=output&id=51

god_of_cpu · 10-01-2004, 12:46 PM

Bump

Any progress on this yet?

kiltjim · 10-25-2004, 09:56 PM

Bumpity Bump.

Any updates? Oh, and is this something we are going to be able to build ourselves? Or are we going to buy it from you?

Have you done any work on the software? Can you release the source?

The reason I ask is I am getting ready to install some switched devices, and was going to buy the 8 parallel relay board. If this board is getting close, I may just wait.

Ricky327 · 10-25-2004, 10:13 PM

Im still working on it...it is nearly finished

Was put on hold for a months or so due to work related stuff.

Circuit design 99%
PCB design 99%
Code 80%
Documentations 30%

There has been some slight change in the specifications :
8 x Relays
8 x Digital inputs
3 x 10-bit Analog inputs

PCB is single sided 4x2 inches

Ill post the project documentation, source code, PCB artwork, SCH..etc.

So yes you can build it yourself.

All relays are placed offboard and can be added as needed since they are the most expensive item in the project.

Total cost to build is about 25USD excluding the add on relays.

Ricky327 · 10-25-2004, 10:16 PM

This will also support a bootloader.

So any future firmware upgrade/modification can be done over the serial port.

kiltjim · 10-25-2004, 10:26 PM

Holy cow. I expected maybe a generic I'm working on it response. You busted out the whole CAD rendering and everything.

Keep up the work. I can't wait now!

And $25?!? AWESOME! I can definetely wait to build this one as opposed to the other parallel card now!

Ricky327 · 10-25-2004, 10:32 PM

Thats what the actual PCB would look like

Im just trying to finish this project off. Ill upgarde it to 33 I/O lines by using the PIC16F871 MCU if this first prove to be a success. Hopefully its not gonna be too difficult to redesign for the bigger chip.

The price to build is still around the same region, just a few dollar more.

kiltjim · 10-25-2004, 11:06 PM

I'd hate to bother you still, but you wouldn't have a preliminary shopping list available, would you?

I wanto get this next step off the ground and moving soon, and iff I have something to order and start soldering, I feel better...

Ricky327 · 10-25-2004, 11:18 PM

Heres are the draft part list, price are each in £ :

1 x ULN2803A Relay driver 0.59
1 x PIC16F870 Microcontroller 2.99
1 x MAX232CPE RS232-TTL level converter 1.99
1 x LM78L05ACZ 5V 100mA voltage regulator 0.29
1 x 20MHz crystal 0.49
25 x Resistors 0.07
4 x 1uF Electrolytic Caps 0.06
1 x 22uF Electrolytic Caps 0.06
1 x 0.22uF Caps 0.09
14 x 0.1uF Caps 0.09
2 x 22nF Caps 0.07
1 x 1N5400 Diode 0.10
12 x BZY5V1 Zener 0.05
1 x DSUB 9-way female serial port 0.79
8 x 30A DPDT Car relays 1.99

Most of the stuff are in there apart from the PCB and the cable connectors.
These are the prices of the parts as found in www.maplin.co.uk so you may be able to find them much cheaper elsewhere specially the relays.

Im trying to further reduce the cost by using less connectors and IC sockets.

lez · 10-26-2004, 03:00 AM

this looks awesome, I needed more a/d but just realised I could use a relay output to switch a 3pole relay etc to double up the inputs.

lez · 10-26-2004, 04:19 AM

or build 2 or 3 of em.......

BeaverWise · 10-26-2004, 07:13 AM

For something that might spark some ideas on the software side of the house take a peek at http://www.controlanything.com/manuals/IOADR8x.PDF

I am still debating what to do... I really like the capabilities of the card made by NCD, but if it can't be used in an automotive environment...

Ideas anyone?

Danceheaven · 10-26-2004, 07:27 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Ricky327

Heres are the draft part list, price are each in £ :

1 x ULN2803A Relay driver 0.59
1 x PIC16F870 Microcontroller 2.99
1 x MAX232CPE RS232-TTL level converter 1.99
1 x LM78L05ACZ 5V 100mA voltage regulator 0.29
1 x 20MHz crystal 0.49
25 x Resistors 0.07
4 x 1uF Electrolytic Caps 0.06
1 x 22uF Electrolytic Caps 0.06
1 x 0.22uF Caps 0.09
14 x 0.1uF Caps 0.09
2 x 22nF Caps 0.07
1 x 1N5400 Diode 0.10
12 x BZY5V1 Zener 0.05
1 x DSUB 9-way female serial port 0.79
8 x 30A DPDT Car relays 1.99

Most of the stuff are in there apart from the PCB and the cable connectors.
These are the prices of the parts as found in www.maplin.co.uk so you may be able to find them much cheaper elsewhere specially the relays.

Im trying to further reduce the cost by using less connectors and IC sockets.

Hey Ricky you havnt specified resistor values

Ricky327 · 10-26-2004, 12:50 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Danceheaven

Hey Ricky you havnt specified resistor values

Yes...because I may still need to adjust some of the values...it was a drafted cost/part list remember

Im not so sure whats the best high/low trigger voltage in the car for reliability. Anything above 6V is HIGH and anything below this is LOW?

I know most (if not all) I/O card triggers at TTL level and if this trigger voltage is left at round 2-3V then it may not work properly in car. Some signal may not go below that voltage to make the card see it as LOW.

Ricky327 · 10-26-2004, 12:56 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by lez

this looks awesome, I needed more a/d but just realised I could use a relay output to switch a 3pole relay etc to double up the inputs.

Wow I never though of that one. I think its best to use those REED relay for this. The standard car relay is too big and probably wont last long if you switch it too often.

Bear in mind that the board is capable of having upto 5 ADC...modifying the firmware will give you this. But of course you will lose some digital inputs.

You can have :

8 x Relays
7 x Digitals
5 x Analogs