Black Box PI125A User manual

APRIL 2001
PI125A
Serial ↔ Parallel Converter IV
CUSTOMER SUPPORT INFORMATION
Order toll-free in the U.S.: Call 877-877-BBOX (outside U.S. call 724-746-5500)
FREE technical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax [phone]
Mailing address: Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018
Web site: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: [email protected]
SERIAL↔PARALLEL
CONVERTER IV

1
FCC AND IC RFI STATEMENTS
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
AND
INDUSTRY CANADA
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENTS
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy
and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio communication.
It has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A computing
device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC rules,
which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference
when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. Operation of
this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause interference, in which case
the user at his own expense will be required to take whatever measures may be
necessary to correct the interference.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible
for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emission from
digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulation of Industry Canada.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites
applicables aux appareils numériques de classe A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le
brouillage radioélectrique publié par Industrie Canada.

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SERIAL ↔PARALLEL CONVERTER IV
NORMAS OFICIALES MEXICANAS (NOM)
ELECTRICAL SAFETY STATEMENT
INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD
1. Todas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser leídas antes
de que el aparato eléctrico sea operado.
2. Las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser guardadas para
referencia futura.
3. Todas las advertencias en el aparato eléctrico y en sus instrucciones de
operación deben ser respetadas.
4. Todas las instrucciones de operación y uso deben ser seguidas.
5. El aparato eléctrico no deberá ser usado cerca del agua—por ejemplo,
cerca de la tina de baño, lavabo, sótano mojado o cerca de una alberca,
etc..
6. El aparato eléctrico debe ser usado únicamente con carritos o pedestales
que sean recomendados por el fabricante.
7. El aparato eléctrico debe ser montado a la pared o al techo sólo como sea
recomendado por el fabricante.
8. Servicio—El usuario no debe intentar dar servicio al equipo eléctrico más
allá a lo descrito en las instrucciones de operación. Todo otro servicio
deberá ser referido a personal de servicio calificado.
9. El aparato eléctrico debe ser situado de tal manera que su posición no
interfiera su uso. La colocación del aparato eléctrico sobre una cama,
sofá, alfombra o superficie similar puede bloquea la ventilación, no se
debe colocar en libreros o gabinetes que impidan el flujo de aire por los
orificios de ventilación.

3
NOM STATEMENT
10. El equipo eléctrico deber ser situado fuera del alcance de fuentes de calor
como radiadores, registros de calor, estufas u otros aparatos (incluyendo
amplificadores) que producen calor.
11. El aparato eléctrico deberá ser connectado a una fuente de poder sólo del
tipo descrito en el instructivo de operación, o como se indique en el
aparato.
12. Precaución debe ser tomada de tal manera que la tierra fisica y la
polarización del equipo no sea eliminada.
13. Los cables de la fuente de poder deben ser guiados de tal manera que no
sean pisados ni pellizcados por objetos colocados sobre o contra ellos,
poniendo particular atención a los contactos y receptáculos donde salen
del aparato.
14. El equipo eléctrico debe ser limpiado únicamente de acuerdo a las
recomendaciones del fabricante.
15. En caso de existir, una antena externa deberá ser localizada lejos de las
lineas de energia.
16. El cable de corriente deberá ser desconectado del cuando el equipo no
sea usado por un largo periodo de tiempo.
17. Cuidado debe ser tomado de tal manera que objectos liquidos no sean
derramados sobre la cubierta u orificios de ventilación.
18. Servicio por personal calificado deberá ser provisto cuando:
A: El cable de poder o el contacto ha sido dañado; u
B: Objectos han caído o líquido ha sido derramado dentro del
aparato; o
C: El aparato ha sido expuesto a la lluvia; o
D: El aparato parece no operar normalmente o muestra un cambio en
su desempeño; o
E: El aparato ha sido tirado o su cubierta ha sido dañada.

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SERIAL ↔PARALLEL CONVERTER IV
TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL
Centronics®is a registered trademark of Centronics
Corporation.
Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are
acknowledged to be the property of the trademark owners.

5
CONTENTS
Contents
Chapter Page
1. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3. Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

6
SERIAL ↔PARALLEL CONVERTER IV
1. Specifications
Configuration: (1) 8-position DIP switch
Flow Control: Serial port: X-ON/X-OFF and
DTR/CTS; Parallel port: Busy and Acknowledge
Memory: 32 bytes
Speed: 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19,200, or
38,400 bps
Interfaces: (1) RS-232 serial (DCE);
(1) Centronics parallel
Connectors: (1) DB25 female (RS-232 side);
(1) DB25 male (Centronics side)
Power: 3 mA typical idle power required @ 3 volts
DC or higher voltage; derived from DTR and RTS
leads of serial interface, or ACK (Pin 10) of DB25
parallel interface
Size: 0.6"H x 2.1"W x 3.5"D (1.5 x 5.3 x 8.9 cm)
Weight: 2 oz. (56.7 g)

7
CHAPTER 2: Introduction
2. Introduction
The Serial ↔Parallel Converter IV converts RS-232
serial to Centronics®parallel or vice versa—you choose
the direction of conversion with a switch. The Converter
supports both X-ON/X-OFF and DTR/CTS serial
hardware handshaking, and Busy/Acknowledge parallel
handshaking.
Since the Converter is powered by the connected
devices, it needs no external power source.
The Converter is programmed with an 8-position DIP
switch for data rate, word structure, and direction of
conversion. The DIP switch can also activate a self-test
mode, in which the Converter continuously delivers a
repetitive data stream to the output port until the test is
turned off.
Because the Converter is so small and light, it’s easy to
connect it directly to a DB25 serial port or a computer’s
DB25 parallel port. For other connections, all you need
is common, low-cost serial or PC parallel printer cables.

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SERIAL ↔PARALLEL CONVERTER IV
3. Installation
CAUTION
Make sure the computer and any other connected devices
are turned off before you make any connections to the
Converter.
The Converter has been designed to plug directly into a
computer’s DB25 male (DTE) serial port, or into a
computer’s DB25 female parallel printer port. If your
serial port is a DB9 male port, use an ordinary DB9-
female-to-DB25-male adapter. If you’re outputting to a
parallel printer, use a standard PC-to-parallel printer
cable and the included DB25 female-to-female gender
changer.
Figure 3-1. Serial-to-Parallel Application.
Figure 3-2. Parallel-to-Serial Application.
Connector
plugs into PC’s
serial port
Converter plugs
into PC’s
parallel port
Serial ↔Parallel
Converter IV (PI125A)
One end
plugs into
Converter
RS-232 cable
(ECN25C-MM)
Other end
plugs into
printer
Serial printer
PC
Gender
changer plugs
into Converter
DB25 end
plugs into
gender
changer
Centronics end
plugs into
printer
Serial ↔Parallel
Converter IV (PI125A)
Parallel Printer Adapter
Cable (EYN600) Parallel
printer
PC

9
CHAPTER 3: Installation
After connecting the hardware, set up the Converter by
selecting the appropriate DIP-switch settings for your
application.
Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Speed (bps)
300 OFF ON ON
600 ON OFF ON
1200 OFF OFF ON
2400 ON ON OFF
4800 OFF ON OFF
9600 ON OFF OFF
19,200 OFF OFF OFF
38,400 ON ON ON
Parity/Bits
Odd/7 OFF ON
Even/7 ON OFF
None/8 ON ON
Self-Test
ON ON
OFF OFF
Conversion
S to P ON
P to S OFF
RTS
for Power
Selected ON
Deselected OFF

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SERIAL ↔PARALLEL CONVERTER IV
NOTE
The Converter reads DIP-switch settings during power-up.
When the self-test mode is selected, the Converter will
continually check the status (on or off) of this position until
the self-test mode is turned off, after which the position will
no longer be checked. All other positions (1–5, 7, and 8) are
not checked after power-up, and changing any of these
positions will not affect the operation of the Converter until
the connected equipment is powered off and back on again.
The installation is finished. If your connection is
working, you don’t have to do anything else. If you have
problems, or if you want more information on the self-
test mode, read the “Self-Test Mode” section that
follows.
Self-Test Mode
The Converter’s self-test mode confirms the successful
connection and operation of the Converter from the
internal processor through the output port. It does not
specifically verify the correct connection or operation of
the input port, but the serial handshake leads that
power the Converter must be working for a consistent
self-test output to the parallel device when connected in
serial to parallel mode.

11
CHAPTER 3: Installation
The Converter can draw operating power from either or
both pieces of connected equipment. In serial to parallel
mode, the parallel device’s input port will not usually be
configured so that it can furnish operating power. This
means that control of the Converter via the power
supply will depend only on control of the handshake
leads of the connected serial device. The Converter can
then be reset by dropping DTR and RTS briefly and
then raising them again. When self-test is selected,
raising DTR and RTS will cause the Converter to output
the self-test message to the parallel device (usually a
printer). Turning off the self-test function by turning
DIP-switch Position 6 off will terminate the self-test and
place the Converter in operating mode.
When the Converter is to be used in parallel to serial
mode, this is how to run the self-test:
1. Connect the Converter’s serial port to the serial
device (usually a printer). Use a straight-pinned
RS-232 cable.
2. Set up the word structure and direction of
conversion with the DIP switches.
3. Turn DIP-switch Position 6 on to start the self-test.

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SERIAL ↔PARALLEL CONVERTER IV
4. Turn on the serial device (terminal or serial
printer).
The Converter will send the self-test message
continuously to the serial device until DIP-switch
Position 6 is turned off. Once the self-test is disabled,
you can connect to the parallel input device, and send
data normally. Do not make the parallel connection until
the self-test is complete.
Note that a PC’s parallel port usually has pull-up
resistors embedded at the port, and this condition will
typically provide enough power to enable the Converter.
If this is the case, dropping DTR and RTS at the
Converter’s serial output will not be enough to turn the
Converter off or to reset it, since the Converter will still
be drawing power from the PC’s parallel port and thus
will remain on even though the serial output port has
had power removed from it. To reset the Converter in
parallel to serial mode, you might have to turn the PC
off and back on again while the serial device is off (or
while its leads are low), so that voltages on the parallel
port drop.

1000 Park Drive • Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 • 724-746-5500 • Fax [phone]
© Copyright 2001. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.