Post by thread:[EE]: Breakout Box (was RS232 tester)

Does anyone have schematics for a simple breakout box? A couple of times I have wanted to add monitoring LEDs to a project, but on the RS232 side, not the TTL side. Josh -- A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. -Douglas Adams spam_OUTSavanaPicsTakeThisOuTAOL.COM wrote: > Rather than software. I would reccomend using a breakout box. I repair ATM > machines for several banking institutions as well as your local convenient store > and my breakout box stays in the tool kit. This will actually show you the > signals on both sides. Jameco sells the identical unit I use for about 23.00. > Good thing about it. it is simple. plug it in and look at the signals. -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Josh, Josh Koffman wrote: > Does anyone have schematics for a simple breakout box? A couple of times > I have wanted to add monitoring LEDs to a project, but on the RS232 > side, not the TTL side. There are many, and of course each has its (dis)advantages. If you want a good versatile DIY breakout box, have a look what I'm using: > http://www.robh.nl/ELECTRO.HTM Regards, Rob. -- Rob Hamerling, Vianen, NL phone +31-347-322822 homepage: http://www.robh.nl/ -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Thanks for the link Rob. A bit complex perhaps for just adding a couple of LEDs to show activity, but I may just build a full one to have around. Thanks! Josh -- A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. -Douglas Adams Rob Hamerling wrote: > There are many, and of course each has its (dis)advantages. If you want > a good versatile DIY breakout box, have a look what I'm using: > > > http://www.robh.nl/ELECTRO.HTM -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

For a simple RS-232 signal monitor, just put a 2-pin bi-color LED in series with a 3.0K resistor, between the signal of interest and signal ground. On control signals one color will indicate active and the other will be inactive. On the Rx/Tx lines one color will indicate inactive and alternately flashing colors indicates activity. The Radio Shack RS-232 mini-tester (276-1401) is constructed this way and is a bargain at $15.00. Paul >{Original Message removed}