PC to Serial Device Adapter

[JonnyMac]

For you hardcore, "roll your own" types I've attached a [tested] circuit for connecting a PC to our serial accessories using common components.  This can also be used to connecting to devices like the Rogue uMP3 player (for settings configuration, experimenting, etc.).

When using with a EFX-TEK product (RC-4, DC-16, AP-8) you would have to install jumper J1; when using it with something like the uMP3 you need to remove this jumper and use the separate RX and TX pins.

Note that no power supply is shown; you can either use a regulated 5v supply (more common now as they're used with USB hubs) or a standard regulator circuit.  The RC-4 is the only thing that needs external power, and you should plan on about 65 mA per board with all relays on.  Note that you cannot "borrow" 5v from the other boards (AP-8 and DC-16) as the R (+5 vdc) pins on the serial headers are not connected to the local supplies; to do so would cause a big cloud of blue smoke to be let out of your devices when you powered everything up....

Edit: And for the sake of full disclosure, we didn't design this circuit, we have found it attributed to several individuals.  Our goal was to find a low-cost solution to RS-232-to-TTL conversion for our serial products, and this circuit works well (I tested up to 115200 baud but expect it will do better than that).

[JonnyMac]

More good news for those that are interested in controlling EFX-TEK devices from a PC; we're working with KC Oaks, the designer of Vixen (www.vixenlights.com) to create drivers that will work with our boards.  Vixen is a really cool bit of freeware that lets you sync auto and external controls.  I've recently been controlling servos and digital outputs on a Prop-SX (which has a built-in serial port), and as we get more comfortable with C# programming we'll create drivers for our other boards as well.  Specifically, we'll create one for RC-4s (lets you control up to 16 AC channels), DC-16 (lets you control up to 64 digital channels), and one for the forthcoming FC-4 (control up to 16 dimmable channels).