Serial Cable and Power

webstarxpress · Post by **webstarxpress** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 7:23 pm

I just came here and have not looked around too much, but I would appreciate it if someone could tell me:

a) Are the serial cables attached when I receive my product? If not, would Matrix Orbital make an exception for me?

b) How are the serial LCDs powered? If it is not direct from the serial port, is it hard to do if you are someone who doesn't do much with electronics?

Thanks in advanace.

-Jesse

WhyPush · Post by **WhyPush** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 7:49 pm

The serial cables are not connected. You either have one, buy one locally, or purchase one through MO. The are just screwed into the unit and computer like any other external cable.

They are normally powered by a connection from the power supply inside your case to a modified 3.5" floppy drive plug. These plugs are also available through MO (Matrix Orbital). If you look at the manuals provided on tis site, you will see how it is done. It's easy trust me.

webstarxpress · Post by **webstarxpress** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 7:50 pm

Thanks for your quick responce. I can't wait to get my MP3 car system up and running...

hd54321 · Post by **hd54321** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 8:30 pm

Hi, get in touch with webxpress. I am in the works on building one of these MP3 car systems and it would be great if we could touch base with eachother. email me at hd04@NOSPAMhotmail.com (remove NOSPAM when emailing). Thanks!

Post by **Henry** » Thu Apr 25, 2002 11:34 pm

The cables are only included in the kits, such as the full PC bay insert kits, like the BLK202A. I'm workig ona car MP3 player my self right now... I can't decide what OS to use, i would like Windowz but we all know how bad that could be... and there is so much to linux...

WhyPush · Post by **WhyPush** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 6:23 am

Henry, I know thet they are included in the kits, but are they already hooked up? It didn't look like it in the manuals.

The good thing about using Windows in your car would be that it would be MUCH harder for them to know what you were doing, although the OS would probally find a way to pod inself onto your mobile phone or XFM unit and still tell Bill what you listen to...

And I'm sure that he'd want you to buy that second licensed version...

_________________
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WhyPush<br>
WhyPush.com

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: WhyPush on 2002-04-26 06:26 ]</font>

Madisn · Post by **Madisn** » Fri Apr 26, 2002 8:04 am

When I purchased my BVF2041, the kit came as three seperate items. The display, power cable, and serial cable. It was VERY easy to connect. The display mounts in the tower like you would a CDRom drive - only it take up two bays-- just slide it in and screw in four screws. The supplied power cable plugs into and existing connector then to the back of the display. The serial cable is not "pre-installed" but easy to hook up. The cable has two ends male / female. The one with the pins connects to the back of the display (only fits on one way) the other end connects to the back of the computer. The only 'trick' is figuring out how you want to get the serial cable from the inside of your system to the outside back of the computer. I ran mine through a break out hole on the plate that covers the ports on my motherboard, but you could easaly run the cable through a PCI opening. To see how easy it is too hook up view this:

http://www.matrixorbital.com/manuals/VFDs4Dummies/

WilburNutsack · Post by **WilburNutsack** » Thu May 02, 2002 9:48 pm

How do you power your display from only the serial cable?
I have a regular lk404-55 and i need to get power from the serial cable only as my LCD is going to be 10 feet away from my PC.

Thanks

Post by **Henry** » Thu May 02, 2002 11:54 pm

e-mail me, I have a new LK404-55 manual that's not published yet, it will give you directions...

WilburNutsack · Post by **WilburNutsack** » Sat May 04, 2002 11:23 am

Does the 12v on pin 4 of a PC serial port supply sufficient current to power the LCD (if reduced to 5v using a zener diode)?

What current does a PC serial port deliver?

I take it, it is not as simple as soldering the jumpers on the LCD PCB and just connecting the serial cable to the PC, as described in the updated manual.

webstarxpress · Post by **webstarxpress** » Sat May 04, 2002 3:02 pm

i am trying to decide on whether to buy the NK204 or the LCD2041. Also, once I decide, which should I get, wide voltage or standard. I am hooking it up to a 233 dell laptop. Can I run a power cable for that from the computer? Or how else could I power the LCD?

Post by **Henry** » Mon May 06, 2002 2:10 pm

On 2002-05-04 15:02, webstarxpress wrote:
i am trying to decide on whether to buy the NK204 or the LCD2041. Also, once I decide, which should I get, wide voltage or standard. I am hooking it up to a 233 dell laptop. Can I run a power cable for that from the computer? Or how else could I power the LCD?

I would recomend the NK204, it's inbetween the LCD2041 and LK204-25, and on sale

The LCD uses ~100mA of power, so power from the serial port will not be enough... you will have to supply the LCD with external power. If you plan on using this by a computer, I would suggest the Wide Voltage model... there is even a better sale there (for 4 more days)...

http://www.matrixorbital.com/products/n ... t-Tech.htm

webstarxpress · Post by **webstarxpress** » Mon May 06, 2002 2:32 pm

Well, i need to know... It will be on a laptop. How can I power it from this laptop?

On 2002-05-06 14:10, Henry wrote:
On 2002-05-04 15:02, webstarxpress wrote:
i am trying to decide on whether to buy the NK204 or the LCD2041. Also, once I decide, which should I get, wide voltage or standard. I am hooking it up to a 233 dell laptop. Can I run a power cable for that from the computer? Or how else could I power the LCD?
I would recomend the NK204, it's inbetween the LCD2041 and LK204-25, and on sale The LCD uses ~100mA of power, so power from the serial port will not be enough... you will have to supply the LCD with external power. If you plan on using this by a computer, I would suggest the Wide Voltage model... there is even a better sale there (for 4 more days)...

http://www.matrixorbital.com/products/n ... t-Tech.htm

Post by **Henry** » Mon May 06, 2002 2:37 pm

one of two ways, get your self a external power supply (something like a 9V DC for speakers) or two, crack open that laptop and find power.. (I would not recomend the later)

webstarxpress · Post by **webstarxpress** » Mon May 06, 2002 6:44 pm

Ok. If I get a power plug... Like a 9v power adapter, one of those round plugs... can i connect the two wires, the positive and negative to the power cable that i buy from you? And then the other two connections are ground right?

On 2002-05-06 14:37, Henry wrote:
one of two ways, get your self a external power supply (something like a 9V DC for speakers) or two, crack open that laptop and find power.. (I would not recomend the later)