Remote Processing RPC-210 - Manual (Page 12)

SETUP AND OPERATION SECTION 2
Page 2-6
WHERE TO GO FROM HERE
If you want to d o this: Turn to
Section
Save a program 3
Run a program at power up or reset
(Auto run) 3
Know m ore abo ut serial por ts 4
Use mem ory to save variables and
data 5
Configure digital I/O lines 6
Detect ON/OF F status of switches 6
Calendar/Clock 7
Use counter/timer 8
Measure frequency 8
Use displays 13
Connect a keypad 13
Measure voltages 11
Output a voltage 11
Refer to the table of contents for a more detailed listing.
TROUBLESHOOTING
You would probably came to this section because you
could not get the sign on message. If you are getting a
sign on message but can' t enter characters, then read 5
in this section. The follow ing are tr oubleshooting hints
when you can' t get anything.
1. Check the power source.
There are tw o board power options. The first one
supplies 5 volts fr om an ex ternal sour ce. If this is
below 4.65 volts at the input power terminal, the
RPC-210 is in reset. Power is 5 ±0.25 volts. Make
sure the 5V supply goes to the pin marked '5' on P1
terminal strip. Rem ove jumper W8.
Make sure the 5 volt supply is "clean". If it dips
intermittently to 4. 65 volts (due to switching noise
or ripple), the car d will reset for about 100 ms. If
the noise is fre quent enoug h, the card w ill be in
perm anent re set. C heck the cen ter pin on U 7. If it is
low, then the card is in reset. This line should be
high (about 5 volts). Some switching power supplies
require a minimum load to operate. Check your
power supply specifications. The RPC-210 draws
about 120 mA.
The second option supplies 6 to 16 volts from an
external source. Power is applied to P1 terminal
marked ' E' . Ver ify the voltage at P1-3 (terminal
marked ' 5' ) is between 4.75 and 5. 25 volts. If the
voltage is missing, verify jumper W 8 is installed.
Make sure the supply voltage is relatively clean. It
may have some ripple on it, pr ovided it does not go
below 6 volts. Make sure you are not using an AC
power source.
Make sure jum per W7 is not installed.
2. Check the COM 0 port (J1).
Make sure the VTC-9F serial cable is oriented
correctly. The key on the cable corresponds to a
silk screen area on the board.
Remove the connector from COM 0. Refer to the
outline drawing earlier in this section. Connect an
oscilloscope (preferred) or a voltmeter to pin 3
(Txd) and ground. Pin 3 should be -6 volts or more
negative. If you have -6 volts or more, reset the
board. If you have a scope attached, you should see
a burst of a ctivity. With a volt m eter, you should
see a chang e in voltage. Using a F luke 8060A set to
measure AC , you should see a mom entary reading
above 2 volts.
3. Check the cable.
Install the cable and make sure the voltages and
output activity are still there. Output is from pin 3
on the VTC-9F. If not, check to make sure
something is not shorting th e output. Wiring is in
SECTION 4, SERIAL PORT PIN OUT.
4. C h e ck th e se r ia l p a r am e te r s o n yo u r PC .
T h ey sh o ul d b e se t t o:
9600 baud
No par ity
8 data bits
1 stop
Make sure you have set the comm unications port on
your PC to the one the VTC-9F is plugged into.