DynaGen GSC400 Series User manual

GSC400 Programmer and PC Interface User Manual
Full Version File: GSC400 PC Interface Rev1.7.doc, September 2014
GSC400 Series
GSC400 Programmer and
PC Interface User Manual

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User Manual for the GSC400 Programmer and PC Interface
Thank You For Purchasing This DYNAGEN Product
Please Read Manual Before Using Programmer
Receipt of Shipment and Warranty Return Information
Upon receipt of shipment, carefully remove the unit from the shipping container
and thoroughly examine the unit for shipping damage. In case of damage,
immediately contact the carrier and request that an inspection report be filed prior
to contacting DynaGen.
All returned items are to be shipped prepaid and include a Return Material
Authorization (RMA) number issued by DynaGen.
Limited Warranty
For warranty information refer to the standard terms and conditions of sale at
www.dynagen.ca.
DYNAGEN GSC400 Webpage
For up-to-date software and other information please see the GSC400 section of
the Dynagen website at: www.dynagen.ca/products/GSC400.htm.

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User Manual for the GSC400 Programmer and PC Interface
END-USER AGREEMENT FOR GSC400 Configurator PC Software
GRANT OF RIGHTS
DYNAGEN grants you the following non-exclusive rights:
You may install and use the enclosed software product on your computer for
reading and configuration of the GSC400 engine controller.
You may not reverse- engineer, decompile, or disassemble the software product,
except and only to the extent that applicable law notwithstanding this limitation
expressly permits such activity.
You may not rent or lease the software product.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
NO LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. To the maximum extent
permitted by applicable law, in no event shall DYNAGEN or its suppliers be liable
for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of
business profit, business interruption, loss of business information, or any other
pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of, or inability to use this software product.
.

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User Manual for the GSC400 Programmer and PC Interface
Table of Contents
1PC INTERFACE SETUP................................................................................................................... 5
1.1 BEFORE YOU BEGIN..................................................................................................................... 5
1.2 SOFTWARE /HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................. 5
1.3 INSTALLING THE GSC400 PC INTERFACE................................................................................. 5
1.4 SETTING UP THE GSC400 PROGRAMMER................................................................................. 8
1.5 DETERMINING THE USB COM PORT ........................................................................................12
1.5.1 Windows XP.........................................................................................................................12
1.5.2 Windows Vista and Windows 7.........................................................................................14
1.6 CHANGING THE USB COM PORT .............................................................................................16
1.7 SETTING UP THE GSC400 PC INTERFACE ...............................................................................19
2GSC400 PC INTERFACE OPERATION.......................................................................................21
2.1 THE SLIDER CONTROL...............................................................................................................21
2.2 MONITORING OF GSC400 PARAMETERS..................................................................................21
3SENDER TABLE CONFIGURATION UTILITY............................................................................23
3.1 PREMADE SENDER TABLES .......................................................................................................24
3.2 OPENING THE UTILITY................................................................................................................25
3.3 UTILITY MAIN WINDOW ..............................................................................................................25
3.4 STORING SENDER TABLES TO THE GSC400............................................................................28
3.4.1 Before Storing......................................................................................................................28
3.4.2 Storing Sender Tables........................................................................................................30
3.5 CREATING A SENDER TABLE......................................................................................................31
3.5.1 Converting Voltage to Resistance....................................................................................31
3.5.1.1 Analog (Resistive) Senders ................................................................................................... 31
3.5.1.2 Digital Senders ........................................................................................................................ 31
3.5.2 Using the Create Sender Table Feature..........................................................................32
3.6 READING SENDER TABLES FROM THE GSC400.......................................................................34
4LOADING FIRMWARE TO THE GSC400....................................................................................35
4.1 SETTING UP THE GSC400 PROGRAMMER................................................................................35
4.2 USING THE GSC400 PROGRAMMER UTILITY............................................................................35
5TROUBLESHOOTING ....................................................................................................................38
5.1 GENERAL....................................................................................................................................38
5.2 TROUBLESHOOTING PROGRAMMING ISSUES.............................................................................38
5.3 TROUBLESHOOTING INSTALLATION PROBLEMS.........................................................................38
5.3.1 Installing the USB Drivers Manually.................................................................................39
5.3.2 Displaying the Found New Hardware Wizard.................................................................41
5.3.3 Correcting Problems with Other USB Devices ...............................................................43

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1 PC Interface Setup
1.1 Before you begin
In order to install and use the DynaGen software, you should have a basic
understanding of how to use your computer. If you do not, we recommend that
you ask someone who does to help you, or that you read the user manual that
came with your computer.
If you encounter any problems or errors while installing the DynaGen
Configurator software, please refer to Troubleshooting Guidelines on page 38.
1.2 Software / Hardware Requirements
For the DynaGen Configurator software to work reliably and efficiently, your
computer must meet or exceed the minimum requirements specified in the
following table.
The GSC400 programming connector is meant only for programming or short
duration monitoring. Do not leave pluged in for more than a few hours when the
generator is running.
Operating System
Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8,
8.1
Processor
Pentium 3 or higher
Memory
Minimum 256 MB RAM
Hard Drive
Minimum 30 MB Free
Disk Space
Video card display
Minimum 256 colors at
1024x768
Peripherals
CD-ROM Drive
Port
USB or RS232
1.3 Installing the GSC400 PC Interface
This section will guide you through the PC Interface install process.
1. Ensure that the GSC400 Programmer USB cable is not plugged into
the computer.

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2. The software for the PC Interface is located on the CD that came with your
GSC400 programmer. You can alternatively download the software from
DynaGen’s website at www.dynagen.ca/products/GSC400.htm.
3. You must remove the old revision of the PC Interface. Alternatively
you can install the new PC Interface in a different folder.
4. Double click on the setup file. It
will have .exe at the end. You
should see the following screen
open. Click the Next button at the
bottom.
5. Enter the location where you want
the program files installed. Click
next. If you are keeping an old PC
Interface version you cannot install
the new version in the same
location as the old version.
Press Next to continue.
6. Enter the location on the Start
Menu (under All Programs) where
you want to install the shortcuts.
Click Next to continue.
Figure 1 –Setup welcome screen.
Figure 2 –Install folder selection.
Figure 3 –Shortcut location.

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7. Review the information on
screen. If you are satisfied click
the Install button. The program
will now install.
8. You will see a progess screen
as shown. If you selected
windows XP or higher another
window will pop up (shown
below) near the end of
installation to install the USB
drivers. The window will
automatically close after the
drivers are installed.
9. Tthe PC Interface will finish its
installation and another
window will appear. (shown to
the right).
Click Finsh to close this
window.
Figure 5 –Installation progress.
Figure 6 –PC Interface setup finish page.
Figure 4 –Installation options review.

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1.4 Setting up the GSC400 Programmer
This section will explain how to connect the GSC400 programmer to the GSC400
controller and PC.
1. Ensure that the GSC400 controller is
powered off. Connect the 10pin
connector (Figure 8) to the GSC400 as
shown in Figure 9 with red stripe facing
towards the center of the GSC400.
2. Power on the GSC400.
Figure 7 –GSC400
Programmer
Figure 8 –10pin connector with female-
female header.
Figure 9 –Proper programmer connection to
GSC400.

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1. Windows XP (for Vista and Windows 7 see below)
Ensure that the GSC400 is powered. Skip these steps if you are using
the serial cable. If you have already installed the USB drives go to step 3.
a. Connect the USB cable to the
computer. If you are connecting
the USB cable for the first time
Windows will need to install the
USB drivers. You will see the
“Found New Hardware Wizard”
appear on the screen. Select the
“No, not this time.” Option and
click next.
b. On the next screen it will ask you
if you want to install the drivers
automatically or manually pick
their location. Select “Install the
Software Automatically
(Recommended)” and click Next.
c. The wizard will now install the
USB drivers. After installation it
will ask you to install the drivers
again. If it does repeat steps 2 to
4.
d.
Figure 10 –Found New Hardware Wizard
Figure 11 –Found New Hardware
Wizard Continued.
Figure 12 –USB drivers installed.

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2. Windows Vista and Windows 7
If you have already installed the USB drives go to step 3.
a. The driver installation is automatic.
When you connect the USB cable,
Windows will connect to Microsoft
Update to find the appropriate
drivers. If you do not have an
internet connection it will locate
the local drivers. You will see a
notice popup in the lower right
hand corner of the screen saying the drivers are being installed.
b. Click on the popup and the
following window will appear. At
the end of the driver installation,
this window will show the serial
port the USB uses.
c. The following popup will appear
when the installation is complete.
3. The GSC400 Programmer can be set in one of two modes: Configure or
Firmware which is controlled by the Mode Switch. To use the PC
Interface the programmer needs to be in the Configure mode.
To do this, follow the instructions below while referring to Figure 7 on page
8. If the Configure LED is already lit and the firmware and hardware
revision were displayed when the GSC400 was powered on then the
programmer is already in the Configure mode.
a. Slide the Mode Switch to the Configure position. The Configure
LED should light up and the Firmware Upgrade LED should be
dark. You will need a small screwdriver to do this.
Figure 13 –Vista/7 installing popup.
Figure 14 –Vista/7 installation details.
Figure 15 –Vista/7 driver installation finished popup.

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b. Insert a small screwdriver into the Reset hole until you hear/feel a
click. This will reset the GSC400. The GSC400 backlighting
should come on and the firmware and hardware revisions should
be displayed and finally the time and date should be displayed at
the top of the GSC400 display.
Note: If you are powering up the GSC400 for the first time you may see
“Initializing…” with a progress bar on the GSC400 display. This is normal.
The firmware and hardware versions will be displayed after Initialization.
4. The GSC400 Programmer is now set up to communicate with the PC. If
you are using the USB cable you can go on to the next section to
determine the serial port.

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1.5 Determining the USB COM Port
If you opted to use the USB cable and install the USB drivers, a COM port will be
reserved whenever the GSC400 Programmer is plugged into the computer with
the GSC400 controller powered.
This section will help you determine the COM port. The GSC400 programmer
has to be plugged into the computer and into the GSC400, and the GSC400
has to be powered.
1.5.1 Windows XP
a. Click the Start Menu icon –located in the lower
left hand corner of the desktop –and right click
on “My Computer”. A menu will come up as
shown. Click on “Properties” at the very bottom.
b. A “System Properties” window will pop up as
shown. Click the “Hardware” tab.
Figure 16 –XP Start Menu.
Figure 17 –XP System
Properties Window

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c. Click on the “Device Manager” button located
near the top of the window.
d. A new window, “Device
Manager”, will be displayed
over the “System Properties”
window. Scroll down to “Ports
(COM & LPT)” and click on
the “+” sign next to the icon.
e. This will expand the selection
and you should now see all the
available COM and LPT
(printer) ports available.
One of the entries in the list
should say “USB Serial Port”
and next to this should be the
COM port it is using in brackets.
This is the COM port you need
to select in the GSC400 PC
Interface. Note that this may
change each time you plug into the USB cable.
In this example the USB driver uses COM10. This is a problem as the PC
Interface only allows COM1 to COM8 to be used. Go to section 1.6 to
change this.
Figure 18 –XP Hardware tab.
Figure 19 –XP Device Manager
Figure 20 –XP Ports group expanded.

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f.
1.5.2 Windows Vista and Windows 7
The images in this section are from Windows 7. Windows Vista screen shots are
practically identical. The device manager may require administrator privileges.
1. Click the Start Menu button
located at the bottom left
hand corner of the screen.
In the list on the right hand
side right click on Computer
and select Properties.
2. The Control Panel
System Window will
open.
Click on Device
Manager in the list to
the left of the screen.
Figure 21 –Vista
Start Menu
Figure 22 –Vista System Panel

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3. The Device
Manager
Window will
open. Scroll
down to Ports
and click on the
plus sign to
expand the
group. You will
see USB Serial
Port with the
COM port it is
using in
brackets. This
is the COM port
you use in the
PC Interface.
If you do not see
the Ports group in
this window then
the computer has not detected the GSC400 Programmer. Make sure the
programmer is plugged in correctly and the GSC400 is powered.
Figure 23 –Vista Device Manager

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1.6 Changing the USB COM Port
The GSC400 programmer has to be plugged into the computer and into the
GSC400, and the GSC400 has to be powered.
If the USB Serial port does not fall into the range of COM1 to COM8 you must
change the port. This section will explain how to do this. The screen shots in the
section are taken from Windows XP but the procedure and windows are the
same for Windows Vista and Windows 7.
1. Starting with the Device Manager Window open
and with the COM Port group expanded, double
click on the “USB Serial Port” under Ports as
shown. If you are not in this screen repeat steps
one to six in section 1.5 above.
2. The USB Serial Port Properties
window should open as shown. Click
on the “Port Settings” tab.
Figure 24 –USB Serial Port
selected.
Figure 25 –XP Driver properties
window.

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3. Under the “Ports Setting” tab
shown click on the “Advanced”
button near the bottom of the
window.
d. Another window will appear
as shown. Click on the drop
down menu beside “COM Port
Number” and choose a serial
port between COM1 and
COM8. There are two things
to keep in mind when
selecting a port:
a. Make sure you do not
select a physical port.
A desktop usually has
one serial port and
COM1 is reserved for
it. If a PC has two physical
COM parts COM2 would
usually be reserved as well.
b. In the drop down menu sometimes you will see “In Use” in
brackets beside some of the COM port selections in the list. It is
Ok to select one of these if you do not have any other USB
devices that use virtual COM ports plugged into your computer.
Once you have selected the COM port click the OK button in the top right
hand corner. In this example COM3 was selected.
Figure 26 –XP USB Driver Port
Settings Tab
Figure 27 –USB Driver
Advanced Settings menu.

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e. If you select a COM port that was in use the window in Figure 28 will
appear. You can click yes if you have not installed other USB devices that
use virtual COM ports. Otherwise check to make sure the other devices
are not using the selected COM port.
f. When you click “Yes” you will go back to the USB Serial Port Properties
window (Figure 26). Click Ok at the bottom of this window.
g. You will now be back at the Device Manager window (Figure 19). Close
this window.
Figure 28 –XP Communication Port Properties Popup.

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1.7 Setting up the GSC400 PC Interface
Now that the PC Interface is installed, the GSC400 Programmer is setup, the
USB drivers are installed, and the COM port set, the next step is to configure the
PC Interface. When you open the PC Interface for the first time it will guide you
though selecting the COM port and picking the controller hardware version. If
you wish to change these settings latter, this section shows you how.
First open the PC Interface. Then follow these steps.
1. Setting the COM Port
a. Click on Communication
located in the top menu and
then Select COM Port. You
will see a list of COM ports
from 1 to 8. Select the
appropriate one by clicking
on it.
b. After you selected the
appropriate COM port the
menu will automatically
close. If you reenter the
“Select COM Port” menu
you will now see a check
mark beside the COM port
you selected. In this
example COM3 is now
checked.
Figure 29 –Communication Menu
Figure 30 –Verifying COM port selection.

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2. Selecting the Controller Hardware Version
Go to Settings menu in the Top
menu. Under Settings there is
the Controller Hardware
Version menu; select the
hardware version of your
controller: LS or LSB.
The hardware version can be found on the serial Label on the back of the
GSC400. It will begin with GSC400-0-LS if the hardware version is LS or it
will begin with GSC400-0-LSB if the hardware version is LSB.
If your serial number has LX then check LS. If your serial number has LXB
then check LSB.
Figure 31 –PC Interface settings
menu.