communicating with a 5/04

jturner911 · Oct 1, 2003

does anyone know if a laptop will communicate with a 5/04 using
a usb to rs232 cable? I can't afford a pcmk card with a com cable
thanks

firebrd10 · Oct 1, 2003

Are you saying that your laptop does not have the 9 pin D-shell RS232 port on the back???

hd_coop · Oct 1, 2003

it sounds to me like thats what he's saying.

panic mode · Oct 1, 2003

I've used diffrent brands USB/RS232 adapters
and all of them did work with AB PLCs including
SLC504. However, none of them supported "Autoconfigure"
of the RS Linx. You must forget about autoconfig and set
parameteres by hand. If you are just servicing working
machine, you can open PLC program and see what was the
RS232 configuration on the PLC side.
Use same settings in the RSLinx and then try to go online.
If you don't know the settings, good luck, I don't think
you would keep on trying till you get the right combination.
If you do, keep the 8bit, full duplex, one stop bit
and try to vary speeds (1200,9600,19200bps for example)
and error checking (CRC and BCC).

jturner911 · Oct 1, 2003

i have a 9 pin d on back of laptop but was wondering if mabey using the usb would communicate a little faster
buy after thinking about it , it is still a rs232 on the other end to connection speed would be the same
how much slower is using the rs232 over the pcmk card with com cable
thanks

Contr_Conn · Oct 1, 2003

If money is problem, RS232 is a way to go.
Especially with SLC5/04 - regular null modem cable will work.
Do you need pinouts?
If you can't make it just buy it from any computer store or check www.plccables.com

panic mode · Oct 1, 2003

For work with SLC, DF_1 is more than adequate.
I just tried it today with 504, cranked up the
speed to 38.4k and it is more than comfortable.
Problem I've just encountered is that I couldn't
download to PV1000DH+ using pass-through connection.
I could see it in RSLinx once I drill-through
PLC, uploading works as well, but download hanged up
at one point and it was just sitting there.
I was using same configuration many times in the past
using RS232 port of the SLC504 to connect to modem
for remote access purposes. This was first time
I encountered problem... hmmm

I might call Tech support, Maybe it's bug of the
PanelBuilder32 V3.8? I've forgot to try it with
my DF1 connection at 19.2k... :-(

Samneggs · Oct 2, 2003

After months (working on and off) I got SLC5/04 DH+ passthrough to work. I had the same symptoms as you, upload but no download. In my case I am using a panelview300 using DF1. Here's my setup:

1) Panelbuilder32 3.8
2) RSLinx 2.40.01
3) SLC Channel(DH+) node address = 3 (match step 10?)
4) SLC DF1 passthrough enable bit S34/5 = 1
5) SLC Channel(DH+) 1 passthrough link ID = 2
6) SLC Channel(DF1) 0 passthrough link ID = 1 (match step 7?)
7) PV300 terminal node address = 1 (match step 6?)
8) PV300 Use netwoking box = checked
9) PV300 baud = 19200
10) PV300 Network node, node address = 3 (match step 3?)

Good luck,

Sam

loosewire · Oct 2, 2003

panic mode said:
I've used diffrent brands USB/RS232 adapters
and all of them did work with AB PLCs including
SLC504. However, none of them supported "Autoconfigure"
of the RS Linx. You must forget about autoconfig and set
parameteres by hand.

I have been using a USB/RS232 Converter with Allen Bradley products for some time now since my PC doesn't have a comm port. I have communicated to several SLC's and Panelviews over DF1 protocol and had no problem using the Auto Configure function of RSLinx. It may not hurt to try and see if the Auto Config can perform.

panic mode · Oct 2, 2003

Don't get me wrong, I've tried it quite few times and I was
trying to get newer drivers in hope that would make difference.
Adaptors I have with me right now in my hnds are from
Belkin (has LEDs but it's pretty big) and
StarTech (most common type I've seen, no LEDs but compact).
If you are sure that one you have IS working, why don't you
let us know of brand/model/distributor?
I would be only happy to buy one or two and recommend to
colegues. We all (control guys in my company) do have COM port
in every laptop but one port is often not enough.
In fact, I would like to get two ports out of one USB and
preferably compact. I've seen RocketPort devices with 2 or
four ports (a bit pricey and a pretty bulky). Didn't try
them myself so if someone has good experience with ANY brand
or model please keep us posted...

Contr_Conn · Oct 2, 2003

We did some research with different consumer level USB-Serial and PCMCIA-Serial adapters with different PLCs. Some of them working just fine, some are not working at all.
What we found, that not all adapters support handshaking correctly and some PLCs are really critical to this.
Also we found, that USB adapter, that works with one PLC-PC setup may not work with another PC with the same PLC running the same software revision. RSLinks autoconfiguration is a good example.
Looks like USB timing and delays create problems.
Check www.plccables.com, they have few USB adapters for PLCs.
I don't know why they stopped selling AB USB adapters, I saw them before.

loosewire · Oct 2, 2003

panic mode said:
If you are sure that one you have IS working, why don't you
let us know of brand/model/distributor?

I am positive that it works! Since I don't have all the information at this moment, I will follow up and provide as much of it as I can find.

loosewire · Oct 3, 2003

Follow Up

Here is the link to the manufacturer's website Bytecc

I have not updated my driver since I am fearful that it will no longer work properly. I am operating on Windows 2k, and the driver that is listed for the device is version 1.5.0.0 by Prolific dated 9/14/2000. I went ahead and checked the website to see if the driver I have installed is the latest release. Looks like it is current. Hope this is useful.

If you do a search on the web, you can find several places to purchase this item.

ArikBY · Oct 3, 2003

Uesing USB to RS232 adaptor might work well with SLC500 but with other

divices of A-B it cause problems I hed problem with that. so I

sugegest

you get PCIMCA card it will give you "physical " port not virtual

port I have 9 pin port on my computre. and one on card It give me the option

to be connected to two divices at a same time. the PCIMCA is not

working with all the divices.like Modicon.

Next time when you buy computer make sure you buy one with 9 pine port

in this business this port is very importent.

I you loking for card try www.silicom.co.il

fmichael · Oct 4, 2003

New laptops with a standard nine pin serial port are quickly becoming extinct. You can special order them, but as for them being available on any standard laptop, be aware. Also, with XP, have had some USB/232 conversion problems. Went away when direct with the nine pin port that had to special order from Compaq when ordered the thing!

communicating with a 5/04

jturner911

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hd_coop

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panic mode

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panic mode

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panic mode

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