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Wiring Newbie - Could use some advice.

FTL_Ian

FTL_Ian

I'm testing some automation software, and I'm an engineer by necessity. Meaning, when I need to know it, I learn it. Usually by trial and error. I've tried and errored too many times now, and figured I would come to the gurus.

Do any of you have any links to automation wiring basics? Or any tips or advice?

I'm trying to wire my automation computer to an Airtools 6000 broadcast delay. I want the automation software to be able to control the start and exit functions on the delay. The 6000's manual seems to suggest this is possible, but I am befuddled by the details. The automation computer has a com port that I have hooked a serial cable to, and I have stripped the other end. How do I hook it up to the 6000? I've tried various ways with no success. Do I hook up to the automation connector or the remote control connector? Then what? Is this even possible, or should I have bought the Airtools 6100 with the RS-232 port?

Eventually I'd like to get an audio switcher and wire that up, but I need to start small. Or, do I need the ACS 8.2+ to make the above project work anyway?

Can you point me in the right direction? Thank you in advance!
 
What kind of automation software? What does that company recommend for switching external devices? For that matter, do they have any provision in the software to switch external devices?

Simian (for example) can control a Measurement Computing USB device which, in turn, can control relay boards made by Measurement Computing as well (www.MeasurementComputing.com; look at the usb-1024ls & usb-DIO 24/37 as well as the CIO-ERB08; total cost abt. $220). Cheaper than the ACS 8.2.

The same company makes a PCI card which will control the relay board; I've got a bunch of them that are now obsolete because Simian no longer supports them. If you are a "guru" on the software side there may be a way to adapt other automation systems to talk to them.
 
It is Simian. Would I need the devices you suggested to interface with the Airtools, or can I hook it directly to the CPU's serial port? I'm guessing the former.
 
FTL_Ian said:
It is Simian. Would I need the devices you suggested to interface with the Airtools, or can I hook it directly to the CPU's serial port? I'm guessing the former.
Click to expand...

Unless the Airtools has a serial port to communicate with the PC, you'll need relays instead. I would imagine it probably looks for dry contact closures meaning you will need relays.
 
Does that mean I need the ACS 8.2+ or a similar product? (I think I'll get the ACS if so, as I like the idea of having an audio switcher and silence sensor as well.)

So simian sends a signal to the ACS causing the relay(s) to close, thereby commanding the Airtools?

Do I then hook the ACS 8.2 up to the "remote control" DB25 on the Airtools? Do I need to make a special cable for this? I have no clue how to do that. Would any of you be interested in being hired to make me the necessary cable(s) and consult with this neophyte?

Thanks!
 
We use Simian as well, and use their relay board function to turn the channels on and off on our consoles (Auditronics 2500). Here is what you need from Measurement Computing (I gave the link in the above post)

1. A USB DIO 24/37 board Here's the link:

http://www.measurementcomputing.com
/cbicatalog/cbiproduct_new.asp?dept_id=415&pf_id=1709

(cut and paste & take space out after the ".com")

2. The ERB series relay board I mention above (they have both 8 relay and 24 relay versions)
3. A cable with 37 pin "D" connectors (female) on both ends for talking to the relay board from the USB DIO 24/37 device (the ribbon cable Measurement Computing sells is just fine);
4. Plastic boxes to put them in (look at the Hammond boxes from Mouser)
5. A 1 amp 5 volt supply for the relay board--the other board runs off a USB cable.
(you can pull the 5 volts from the computer, the relay board comes with a cable that has a connector that mates with the standard 4 pin hard drive power feed).

To install with the Simian just tell it that this is their switcher kit. BSI sells the USB 1024LS which is the same device except that you have to wire the cable to the relay board to a pair of terminal boards with tiny screws. The DIO device just uses "D" connectors, so all you need to do is run the cable between that and the relay board.

Simian communicates with the DIO device through the USB cable; that gadget tells the relay board which relay to turn on. Then you can wire whatever gadget you want to the relay board. The one I describe above has 8 relays, the bigger one, which is $270, I believe, has 24 relays. Read your Simian book on how to put macro commands in to turn a relay contact on when you need it. As I mention, we use the relay board to turn console channels on or off on our satellite fed programming, we create a "cart" which has a play next command and turn relay XX on macro to turn the satellite feed off, play spots, then on the incoming trigger out of the break, to turn the satellite feed back on. On one station we switch between ABC during the day and Premier in the evening, plus inserting ABC news top of the hour. On the other station, we use the system to insert MRN programs into the ABC classic rock feeds.
 
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