Parallel Port Power Control Plugin

Rhys.Goodwin · 2006-12-22, 21:22

A plug-in to control AC devices via the parallel port

Taipan · 2006-12-22, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhys.Goodwin

A plug-in to control AC devices via the parallel port

Where is it?

Or, is this a "Feature Request"? If it is, then you have posted in the wrong forum - this forum is for completed plugins to be announced.

Rhys.Goodwin · 2006-12-23, 08:54

http://www.team-mediaportal.com/file...tPowerControl/

ohdarklord · 2006-12-23, 12:28

I was going to code this if i ever got round to setting up the hole parrellel port and relay thing.

i look forward to trying this out.

Rhys.Goodwin · 2006-12-23, 23:08

Yeah I'd reccommend getting solidstate relays if yuor going to do it, bit more expensive, but it makes it so easy. I picked mine up 2nd hand at NZ$5 each!

Witwicki · 2007-01-01, 16:08

First I would like to thank you for such a great idea

I have now started to build my relay box using opto-isolators and 10amp relays, i'm hoping to use the 12v from the computer PSU to drive the relays

as for the plugin i did have some problems at first getting it to work.

1) the first DLL I downloaded didn't work (i'm glad that MP has log files)
2) could we have an option of which LPT port to use?
3) not a problem with the plug in but a problem with windows. It seams parport.sys sets all the data pins to high on load, this mean that all my devices will power up when windows loads then I will need to toggle them off in MP

Thanks for the good work
Adam Witwicki

Rhys.Goodwin · 2007-01-01, 23:59

Hi, and thanks for the feed back.

Q.1: dll not working? what is the problem there? is it working now? what do your logs say. perhaps there is a bug I need to fix?

Q.2: Yes I can add and option for lpt port. I knew I should have done that! but I thought I'd just wait for some one to ask for ! ;-)

Q.3 Yes I find that as well. For me it's not really a problem since I run my media PC 24/7. However I do have a windows start-up item that resets all pins back to zero at boot.

Hope this helps. Let me know how you get on with your setup.

Cheers,
Rhys

Witwicki · 2007-01-02, 00:15

Hi,

I downloaded the wrong dll from the net, i found the dll already in MP in the end and its working now, could you not include this?

I only have one port atm, but I may have more

(it was a pain working out the address of my port

)

A program on start up will help in the meantime, it can act as a POST of the relays and it also makes sure your plugin shows the correct state when it loads.

I have only tested your plugin with a multi meter on the port, it going to take me about a week to knock up the first channel, but I can really see the potential

Thanks
Adam

Rhys.Goodwin · 2007-01-04, 21:24

Updated. Added support for port selection and a couple of other bits and pieces. Note tho that the version in the plug-ins download section won't work with SVN. If you need a copy of the dll compiled for SVN just let me know :-)

BluXtriad · 2007-01-13, 13:05

Thats some brilliant work there, I just have a few questions.
1. It it possible to use this pluggin with a serial based relay controller.
2. If it is possible to use serial will it possible to use a usb serial converter since my laptop lacks any ports.
3. If the relay pcb is parallel based, is it possible to use a parallel to serial converter.
4. I noticed a 8 port relay available at jaycar will this work with the plugin and is it possible to make it control up to 8 devices. http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...=&SUBCATID=432
Also i Have found one at Altronics but this is a two part sollution. http://www.altronics.com.au/index.as...=item&id=K2850
http://www.altronics.com.au/index.as...=item&id=K2852

I thankyou for your time for reading this post, could you please pm your reply to me as well so I dont miss out on your answer please.

2006-12-22, 21:22	#1 (permalink)
Rhys.Goodwin Portal Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 335 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Country: My System	Parallel Port Power Control Plugin A plug-in to control AC devices via the parallel port Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Rhys.Goodwin; 2007-07-06 at 03:45.

2006-12-23, 12:28	#4 (permalink)
ohdarklord Portal Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 196 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	I was going to code this if i ever got round to setting up the hole parrellel port and relay thing. i look forward to trying this out. __________________

2007-01-01, 16:08	#6 (permalink)
Witwicki Portal User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	This is great! First I would like to thank you for such a great idea I have now started to build my relay box using opto-isolators and 10amp relays, i'm hoping to use the 12v from the computer PSU to drive the relays as for the plugin i did have some problems at first getting it to work. 1) the first DLL I downloaded didn't work (i'm glad that MP has log files) 2) could we have an option of which LPT port to use? 3) not a problem with the plug in but a problem with windows. It seams parport.sys sets all the data pins to high on load, this mean that all my devices will power up when windows loads then I will need to toggle them off in MP Thanks for the good work Adam Witwicki

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2006-12-23, 08:54	#3 (permalink)
Rhys.Goodwin Portal Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 335 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Country: My System	http://www.team-mediaportal.com/file...tPowerControl/

2006-12-23, 23:08	#5 (permalink)
Rhys.Goodwin Portal Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 335 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Country: My System	Yeah I'd reccommend getting solidstate relays if yuor going to do it, bit more expensive, but it makes it so easy. I picked mine up 2nd hand at NZ$5 each!

2007-01-01, 23:59	#7 (permalink)
Rhys.Goodwin Portal Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 335 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Country: My System	Hi, and thanks for the feed back. Q.1: dll not working? what is the problem there? is it working now? what do your logs say. perhaps there is a bug I need to fix? Q.2: Yes I can add and option for lpt port. I knew I should have done that! but I thought I'd just wait for some one to ask for ! ;-) Q.3 Yes I find that as well. For me it's not really a problem since I run my media PC 24/7. However I do have a windows start-up item that resets all pins back to zero at boot. Hope this helps. Let me know how you get on with your setup. Cheers, Rhys

2007-01-02, 00:15	#8 (permalink)
Witwicki Portal User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi, I downloaded the wrong dll from the net, i found the dll already in MP in the end and its working now, could you not include this? I only have one port atm, but I may have more (it was a pain working out the address of my port ) A program on start up will help in the meantime, it can act as a POST of the relays and it also makes sure your plugin shows the correct state when it loads. I have only tested your plugin with a multi meter on the port, it going to take me about a week to knock up the first channel, but I can really see the potential Thanks Adam

2007-01-04, 21:24	#9 (permalink)
Rhys.Goodwin Portal Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 335 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Country: My System	Updated. Added support for port selection and a couple of other bits and pieces. Note tho that the version in the plug-ins download section won't work with SVN. If you need a copy of the dll compiled for SVN just let me know :-)

2007-01-13, 13:05	#10 (permalink)
BluXtriad Portal User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country:	Thats some brilliant work there, I just have a few questions. 1. It it possible to use this pluggin with a serial based relay controller. 2. If it is possible to use serial will it possible to use a usb serial converter since my laptop lacks any ports. 3. If the relay pcb is parallel based, is it possible to use a parallel to serial converter. 4. I noticed a 8 port relay available at jaycar will this work with the plugin and is it possible to make it control up to 8 devices. http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...=&SUBCATID=432 Also i Have found one at Altronics but this is a two part sollution. http://www.altronics.com.au/index.as...=item&id=K2850 http://www.altronics.com.au/index.as...=item&id=K2852 I thankyou for your time for reading this post, could you please pm your reply to me as well so I dont miss out on your answer please.