Serial to USB Converter

[Zeppo]

I have a device that basically has 3 microswitches in it that connects to the serial port of my computer.
The serial port has blown out on the computer, and I was wondering if a serial to USB converter would work for such a device.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[Peter]

Depends on whether the driver for the thing goes through the serial port driver /properly/ or through messy legacy port access. If the latter, it's got to be a legacy serial port. If the former, then yes, a USB serial port will do.

 

[Zepper]

Yup, find out how your app accesses the serial port, then buy accordingly: USB converter or a serial port add-on card (they're still out there).

.bh.

 

[Peter]

... and won't help either if the application insists on having a /true/ legacy COM port. PCI COM port cards are much closer to that then a USB-serial dongle ever will, but they're still PCI not ISA. The legacy COM port resource pairs, like I/O 3F8h and IRQ4 for COM1, cannot be allocated from PCI.

 

[Modelworks]

Have you looked at the device to determine how they are controlling the microswitches ?
There are alot of ways to control multiple switches with just switching bits on the port using the voltages most pc already have on the port, around 11v, without using any external power except whats on the port.

Which might explain why the port is burned out.
The port can't supply much current in that mode and if you go over you can damage the port beyond repair.


If they are doing it that way without the use of a microprocessor then nothing will work except a hardware port. USB converter serial ports are usually running on a 5v logic.