Connecting to a PC using RS-232 and a HI 2151/30WC

Your HI 2151/30WC has a bi-directional serial port. The HI 2151/30WC serial port is an universal port is configurable for RS 232, RS 422, or RS 485 communications.  The format of the serial strings are shown in the HI 2151/30WC Operation & Installation manual.  

The user would be required to develop their own communications driver to handle any bi-directional communications over the serial port.  Hardy Process Solutions offers a Dynamic Data Exchange DDE/OLE setup program that will interface with Microsoft programs, but there would still be visual basic or other driver programs required.

NOTE: The HI 3000 and HI4000 series weight controllers do not have two-way serial communications capabilities.

To test the setup you can stream the data from the serial port to your host communications package. This will verify you have the correct wiring and the comm. port is good. Then work on the serial driver application program and serial commands.

Setup and testing of the HI 2151/30WC  using RS 232 serial communications:

In this example the communication cable is attached to COM port 1 using the standard Hyper-terminal setup on a PC.

Setup; baud 19,200, 8-N-1, Control = Hardware, RS 232, Echo = OFF, Address 00, Sercon = print

Set format, in the weight controller under serial port P1 options, to all on except the first, P, location to blank. (Continuous output) GNTRS_. Press enter to write the format record.

Voltage checks RS 232:
Signal ground to CTS = +10 volts, when hooked to the COM 1, RTS pin seven, and communications is active. Read -6v when no communications is started or established.
Signal ground to TXD is +10volts when communications is active and -6 volt when no communications is started.
CTS held to positive voltage above 5 volts and less than 15 volts. You can use a 9-volt battery or hook to RTS on the host COM port.

Hardy 5 pin connector to 9-pin female D-shell connector for RS 232 serial communications.
Hardy RXD pin 3 to COM 1 pin 3 TXD
Hardy TXD pin 4 to COM 1 pin 2 RXD
Hardy CTS pin 1 to COM 1 pin 7 RTS
Hardy GND pin 5 to COM 1 pin 5 SIG GND

If these don't work;
1. Verify you are connected to the host comm. port you think you are.
2. You cannot use a serial communications option card from a HI 2151/20WC in the HI 2151/30WC controller.
3. All serial communications uses the universal communications port J3.
4. Measure the voltages to see if the COM port is functioning.
5. Don't cross connect any other pins on the COM 1, 9-pin connector. There are pins that are jumpered together if using a 25-pin COM. port. DSR (6) to, DCD (8), to DTR (20) this forces DTR high on the host side.

It is possible that your COM port on the HI 2151/30WC, or the PC is inoperative.

There were bugs in older HI 2151/30WC software releases. Checking under the self test, the correct software is 0650-0089 rev 1.26 and higher.  This can be determined by running the self test.  The software revision will be displayed.

There are debug tools available on the open market such as dock light.  Docklight is a test, analysis and simulation tool for serial communication protocols via RS232, RS485/422, TCP, UDP and others.  www.docklight.de