Resources and sources for analog and digital computer I/O. Just collecting resources as I haven't found the perfect (and cheap!!) solution(s) yet.

(There are a few more sources on my private TWiki.)

Keywords: hardware, input, output

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Contents

Analog (AI and AO)

Analog In (AI)

• Quozl: Four DS-1820 Temperature Inputs to a Serial Port, $~38 (the first link is the home page of the designer, this link is a source for the kit -- 0.5 to 0.01 degrees accuracy, F or C, some DIs easily added -- temperature range goes up to 125 degrees C (about 257 F) -- not sure that will be sufficient for my flue temperature sensor (and whether the DS-1820 can survive if temperatures go above that)
• DIGITAL THERMOMETER KIT DT-3; $8.95; -- might serve as a temperature front end for one of the other kits -- "Kit designed to turn your digital multi-meter into an accurate thermometer with .1 degree resolution. 250 degree span covering from -40 to +300 deg "F"."
• 8 CH. A/D PARALLEL PORT KIT; $79.95; "Easy to assemble kit uses a TIL549 A/D converter, and a CD4051 CMOS Mux/Switch to provide 8 channels of 8 bit analog to digital conversion."

Analog Out (AO)

Digital (DI and DO)

DO

I need to drive some 115 VAC loads, possibly using interposing relays.

• Quozl's PIC 16F877 Pump Controller -- by the designer of the Four DS-1820, this isn't exactly (or only) a DO, but includes a microcontroller and might be adapted to serve as (just) a DO -- and see also Quozl's Irrigation Controller for three outputs and what might be a suppression circuit to avoid damage from reactive loads (coils (relays), motors, etc.)
• COMPUTER RELAY BOARD KIT; $35.63; -- "This kit allows your P.C. to control lights, solenoids and other heavy loads found in the real world. Kit supplies external relay board, eight 12VDC relays (5A contacts)"
• [[http://www.electronickits.com/kit/complete/elec/ck1601.htm][PARALLEL PORT RELAY BOARD (Kit)] — $27, "8 relays each capable of switching 12VDC/10A or 240VAC/5A. Each relay has an LED ...", Windows and Dos software

DI

I need to sense some 115 VAC and some 24 VDC signals, IIRC.

Analog and Digital

• Kit 6093 Data Acquisition System; $124.95; "Monitors up to 16 digital inputs (up to 20VDCmax). 11 multiplexed analog inputs (0-5VDC using 10bit ADC). You can drive relays, motors etc. with 8 digital outputs (open collector transistor output. 33V @ 500mA max), and 1 analog output (0-2.5V or 0-10VDC using 8 bit DAC). A set of simple DOS utilities (with source code) & code examples are provided."
• 12-BIT DATA ACQUISITION UNIT KIT, $55.00; -- "Kit turns your computer's parallel port into a 12 Bit analog data acquisition system. Monitors 4 digital inputs (TTL). 8 multiplexed analog inputs (0-4.096VDC. Drive external circuits with 4 TTL outputs."

Miscellaneous Accessories

• 12 volt, 3 amp Power Supply -- $4.95 (special or closeout)

Suppliers

MPJA (Marvin P. Johnson Associates??)

MPJA has many kits that may be useful. Also watch for their monthly specials and clearance items. Most of the I/O kits include software for Dos and Windows:

• Index
• One List of Kits (there are three or four lists of kits)

Resources

• Home -> Projects -> LED - Parallel Port Control
• PyPortIO — Python C Extension for parallel port I/O
• Slashdot: Control 8 Electrical Devices With Your Parallel Port

Contributors

• RandyKramer - 15 Apr 2002
• <If you edit this page, add your name here, move this to the next line>

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