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Need a Serial/USB robotics type controller box so I can have my computer control a motor or something...

T

TypeXenon

Banned
In 8th grade tech class we used to use a Mac and a Serial Controller thing to program certian tasks to happen. Anyone know if they have this sort of thing for the PC? I want to have my car computer control my power locks, windows, shutdown of my amps, stuff like that...


If you have any ideas let me know! I can program fairly well, I just dont know of what they call this device.
 
You will need Input/Output module with relay outputs.
BlackBox makes some PCI devices, I am not sure about USB.But keep in mind all these devices are industrial rated and high priced $$$$.
Also you should be able to use your parallel port to connect some relays with low current 5 volt coils.
Port is bi-directional and each line can be accessed individually (binary signals).
I did this about 12 years ago in DOS based PCs just using simple Basic.
Simply read and write 8 bit value from the port.
 
Actually instead of PC you better use device called PLC - programmable logic controller.
You can get small one similar to Allen-Bradley Micrologix or Modicon Momentum for few hundred $$$.
You will need special PC software to program it.
Visual interface can be done using Visual Basic.
 
Well I already have a computer in the car for my stereo system. This parallel port idea sounds like something I could use. Do you have to write using machine code or is there a library for C/C++?
 
I wrote mine in c, there is a whole line of stuff written for the parallel port,
you just have to search for it, or e-mail me & I'll try to find the references and send them to you.
j_gangloff@hotmail.com

I also have several articles that explain how to do it, step-by-step.....
 
Find port address during POST or in Windows device manager. Just a 3 addresses could be for standard PC:
somthing like 378h or 3F8h or 3BCh (I am not sure, but close).
In your VB, C++, pascal or just qbasic find command to write to I/O port something like
port[$378]=$FF , where $FF it your value you need to set in hex.
Same with port read: something similar to aaaa:=port[$378]
 
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