PLX SM-AFR Serial upgrade

[ScarabEpic22]

So Im looking to get a WBO2 now and dont really know a lot about PLX or Innovate, except that both are good WBO2s to buy. My question is what are the pros/cons to each and how hard is it to mod either to work with the serial interface on a V2? Im just going to get a WBO2, no guage or anything else as I will only be using it with my V2. Thanks guys!

[Chalky]

Base on what I see and what little I know, I would lean toward the Innovative system vs PLX Devices. The PLX SM-AFR as an example, needs to to modified to add a DB9 to work with V2 while I believe the LM-1 is already setup with a serial port and would only need a cable. I understand the LC-1 will also work easily but I am not sure what is needed for the LC-1.

http://forum.efilive.com/showpost.ph...1&postcount=60
http://forum.efilive.com/showpost.ph...7&postcount=10
http://sodoityourself.com/max232-ser...vel-converter/
http://forum.efilive.com/showthread....ghlight=serial
http://forum.efilive.com/showthread....ghlight=serial

[Wolfie]

Welllp....
I finally received the CORRECT serial converter!
Mounted it from outside the rear case plate,
It took me awhile to figure out the +3.3v tap as the picture was
not clear to me. I was not sure just which place to tap it, but
with the help of my trusty dvm, I got it right.
I didn't have a null modem adapter, so I just cut the end off of
a db9 m/f cable and crimped on a RJ12.
Works nice!!!!!!

[Chalky]

Welllp....
I finally received the CORRECT serial converter!
Mounted it from outside the rear case plate,
It took me awhile to figure out the +3.3v tap as the picture was
not clear to me. I was not sure just which place to tap it, but
with the help of my trusty dvm, I got it right.
I didn't have a null modem adapter, so I just cut the end off of
a db9 m/f cable and crimped on a RJ12.
Works nice!!!!!!

Pics?

What serial converter did you end up with?

[ScarabEpic22]

Thanks for the WBO2 links, Ill probably end up with a LC-1 as I dont need a guage.

[JezzaB]

Welllp....
I finally received the CORRECT serial converter!
Mounted it from outside the rear case plate,
It took me awhile to figure out the +3.3v tap as the picture was
not clear to me. I was not sure just which place to tap it, but
with the help of my trusty dvm, I got it right.
I didn't have a null modem adapter, so I just cut the end off of
a db9 m/f cable and crimped on a RJ12.
Works nice!!!!!!

Well done mate. Once you go serial you cant go back to analog!

Jez

[Wolfie]

Chalky,

it was this one...


RS232 TTL Convertor Cable Kit (MAX3232) for AVR/PIC/GPS



found at...

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...2BSI%26otn%3D4

[vxleather]

Does the serial cable that comes with the V2 already have the board interanly in it???

Meaning I can fit a male plug of the back of a Pc to the plx box???

[thunder550]

Why is it necessary to do this instead of just putting a stereo minijack Y splitter on the TX plug?

All I see are connections to +V, G, and Tx. All of those are carried by the standard serial cable.

[Blacky]

I am not an electronics engineer, but this is what I've been told...

The PLX device does not provide an RS232 serial input and output compatible voltage level. The PLX exposes the internal, unbuffered, unprotected serial TX/RX pins from the CPU. Those TX/RX pins operate at 5V (maybe 3V - I' don't know I haven't looked).

Serial data that is RS232 compliant sends/transmits using 12V signals. You don't want to plug a 12V signal (i.e. a PC or FlashScan) into an unprotected device that expects only 5V (i.e. PLX).

You need to perform a voltage conversion (and possibly a voltage inversion as well) using a MAX232 chip or similar.

Regards
Paul