×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

laptop usb port

laptop usb port

laptop usb port

(OP)
Hi everyboady. I have a laptop DELL inspiron 1300. I want to use it for linking with PLC but it have`nt a serial port. it only have USB port. can anybody recommend me any model or brand?

RE: laptop usb port

Me too. Only, you have to use exotic com numbers. Like com4: and com5:

Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org

RE: laptop usb port

These USB-serial converters absolutely will not work with A-B's 1747-PIC, so don't waste your time or money trying. Thankfully they have released a USB replacement in the form of the 1747-UIC which is reasonably priced and works reliably, two notable improvements over the 1747-PIC!

----------------------------------
  I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...

RE: laptop usb port

But, is it an AB PLC the OP is using?

I don't see why an USB/232 adapter that works with all systems I have tested (drives, PLCs, development systems, measurement interfaces) shouldn't work in his case - which we do not know much about.

Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org

RE: laptop usb port

Yes, very good question! Which PLC?

A-B's problem stems from the 1747-PIC being quite an old product. It draws power from the port, and is quite power-hungry by the modern standards. The power requirement is met by the original PC/AT serial port spec from years ago, but  more modern computers are able to supply less power from their  serial ports. Laptops are probably the worst in this respect, but my PIC doesn't work reliably with newer desktops either. A-B's solution, as you might guess, is 'buy different hardware'.

I wonder if it is practical to incorporate a small external power source to run the PIC?

http://domino.automation.rockwell.com/applications/kb/RAKB.nsf/0/310D1DD7CF69924785256AFB005D8953

http://domino.automation.rockwell.com/applications/kb/RAKB.nsf/0/2B0EF50431B6637C85256AFB005565A8

----------------------------------
  I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy it...

RE: laptop usb port

Power hungry. Yes, that's a problem. I guess that a powered USB hub could help in some cases.

Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org

RE: laptop usb port

In 2005 i purchased an Acer Travelmate 2355XC laptop.  i was so exited to own my own laptop that i did not notice it did not have a serial port. In the manual it said that you could have one fitted if you required it.  I asked around and was advised that you could use a USB to RS232 adaptor.  I purchased a Meccer USB to 232 adaptor from a computer store and it works great. I have used it on Moeller Easy PLC,s and Omron.  I have not been able to get it to work with a Telemechanique plc though.

RE: laptop usb port

I had some problems when developing a microcontroller based measuring systems. Whenever I connected one of these in the serial port of the device, the readings went crazy. However, the grounding and shielding weren't very good... which might have something to do with it. :\

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources