Scientific Solutions ^® Inc.

BaseBoard ^® RL-520 Adapter

Scientific Solutions RL-520 Adapter

RL-520 Adapter shown with 50 position ribbon cable (Adapter & Cable included in kit

The RL-520 Adapter is used to interface the BaseBoard equipped with an Opto-Isolation INPUT module to a Rice Lake Indicator model RL-520. The combination of the Opto-Isol INPUT module and the RL-520 Adapter is used to protect the BaseBoard's Digital I/O circuits from being damaged. Typically, this combination is used for Erie Strayer Cement Mixing products.

The RL-520 Adapter is a small interface that contains a circuit board and two connectors. The Adapter comes with a 50 position cable.

The features of the adapter are:

• Converts 50 pin BaseBoard Opto-INPUT connector to DB37 pin RL-520 Connector
  • Provides proper wiring of data and status signals
  • Includes circuit with current limiting protection

Explanation of why this adapter is needed:

The BaseBoard / ISA contains four main Digital I/O controllers. These are the 40pin chips located along the top of the card. In some cement mixing applications, these Digital I/O controllers become damaged. This issue appears to be associated with interfacing the BaseBoard to the Rice Lake Indicator Model RL-520. Scientific Solutions tested the BaseBoard with the Rice Lake model RL-520 and found that depending upon how devices are powered-up and initialized, a situation could exist that causes "Latch-up" damage to the BaseBoard circuits.

This is not a design problem with the BaseBoard or the RL indicator, but rather is a system issue of properly mating the two pieces of equipment.

To solve this issue, Scientific Solutions suggests that you install Opto Isolation INPUT modules on the BaseBoard.

The Opto Isolation module attaches directly onto the BaseBoard card inside the computer and provides protection from damage when power is off to the BaseBoard but inputs from external equipment are active (a potential situation when interfacing to the RL indicators). The Opto module provides 2500v optical isolation protection and can handle over-voltage inputs and floating grounds. The Opto Isolation INPUT modules are about 2" x 3" with a 40 position socket connector and a 50 pin header connector. The module plugs onto the current 40 pin connector of the BaseBoard. The 50 pin header of the Opto Isolation INPUT module is then used to connect to a ribbon cable.

Without the Opto-Isolation INPUT module, the RL indicator uses a cable that has a 40 position socket connector on one end to connect to directly to the BaseBoard and a DB37M connector on the other end to directly connect to the DB37F on the back of the RL-520 indicator.

With the Opto Isolation INPUT module, the ribbon cable from the RL indicator changes. The cable would be 50 position instead of 40 and the pin (since the Opto module provides a 50 pin connector), and the wiring is different.

Scientific Solutions offers the Opto Isolation module and a Cable & Adapter kit that can be purchased directly from Scientific Solutions and installed in the field. With these items, the customer has everything they need to install the Opto Isolation INPUT module and cabling to protect their BaseBoard product from damage.

• The BaseBoard / ISA has four ports, labeled P1 thru P4.
• Most cement mixing installations only use two of the four ports.
  • Normally one port per scale indicator
• So for the typical installation, you will need two Opto Isolation modules with cables & adapters
  • Qty=2, of Opto Input Module
  • Qty=2, of Adapter & Cable Kit

Currently, Scientific Solutions has a Cable & Adapter kit for the Rice Lake Indicator Model: RL-520.

If you require a Cable & Adapter kit for a different indicator, please contact Scientific Solutions to discuss your needs.

Using the Opto Isolation INPUT module isolates the BaseBoard electronics from the indicator and therefore allows more versatility to use different indicators if desired, i.e. changing from one indicator to another would be more

Installation of the RL-520 Adapter:

Open the Computer

1. Refer to your computer manual

Unplug the 40 pin cables

1. You will probably see 2 ribbon cables feeding thru the back of the computer and connecting to the BaseBoard
2. Note the RED stripe on the cables is oriented towards the top of the card
3. Mark the cables so you know where the cables are connecting
4. The BaseBoard has 4 ports
   • The Ports are numbered from the "Front-End" to the "Bracket End" as follows:
   • [front] P4 P3 P2 P1 [bracket]
5. Mark the port number on the cable
   • Use a permanent marker, label or some other method
6. Unplug the cables that you have marked and feed them out thru the Bracket
   • Unplug the cables by pulling evenly on the connector. Try not to rock the connector off one end as this will end up bending the pins of the BaseBoard's connector.

Remove the Cable-Clamp and the Strain-Relief Brackets

Attached to the BaseBoard is a Bracket consisting of three parts

1. Board Retaining Bracket
   • Attaches to the BaseBoard with two screws
2. Cable Clamp
   • Attaches to the Board Retaining Bracket with two screws
3. Cable Strain-Relief Bracket
   • Attaches to the Cable Clamp with two screws

In order to remove the cables from the computer and also to remove the BaseBoard, both the Cable Clamp and the Cable Strain-Relief Bracket need to be removed. Be sure not to lose the screws as each of these items should be put back on once the BaseBoard is re-installed and the new cables are connected.

Remove the BaseBoard from the Computer

1. The BaseBoard is held in the computer with a single screw that attaches the Board Retaining Bracket to the computer.
2. Remove this screw and then you can remove the BaseBoard from the computer.
   • Keep the screw as you will use it when your re-install the BaseBoard.

Install the Opto-Isolation INPUT modules

1. The Opto-Isolation modules have a 40 position "socket" connector that plugs directly on the 40 position "pin" header on the BaseBoard.
2. The Opto-Isolation module should have stand-offs already attached.
   • These stand-offs provide support to the Opto module
3. Plug the Opto-Isolation module on the BaseBoard port that previously had the 40 position cable
   • Typically you will install 2 modules
4. Use the screws supplied to secure the Opto module to the BaseBoard
   • The screws install from the back of the BaseBoard
   • Their are 4 screws to install, one for each of the stand-offs
   • The screws are Nylon to avoid shorting if the BaseBoard Opto-module touches another card in the system.

Install the BaseBoard in the computer

1. Re-install the BaseBoard in the computer
2. With the Opto-modules attached, be sure the BaseBoard does not hit another card already installed
   • If cards are hitting, try moving cards if necessary to provide a free-slot next to the BaseBoard.
3. After the BaseBoard is in the computer, re-install the screw your previously removed into the Board Retaining Bracket

Install the 50 pin cables

1. Feed the 50 position cables thru the BaseBoard's Retaining Bracket
   • There are probably two cables
   • First Feed the cable that installs in the port towards the Bracket end of the card
   • Second, Feed the cable that installs in the port towards the frond end of the card
2. Be sure the RED stripe is facing towards the top of the card
3. Plug the cable into the corresponding Opto module
   • The RED stripe of the cable will be at the PIN -1 position of the Opto's 40 pin header
4. You should have previously marked the cables so you know which port to plug the cable into

Re-Install the Cable-Clamp and the Strain-Relief Brackets

Attached to the BaseBoard is a Bracket consisting of three parts

1. Attach the Cable-Clamp to the Board Retaining Bracket
   • Use the two screws you previously removed
2. Attach the Strain-Relief Bracket to the Cable-Clamp
   • This will secure the cable between the Cable-Clamp and the Strain-Relief
   • This clamping arrangement provides a strain-relief to help secure the cables in place.
   • This is important to prevent physical damage if somehow the cables are "pulled" from the computer

Close the Computer

1. Refer to your computer manual

Connect the RL-520 Adapter to the RL-520 unit

1. Connect the 50 position cable to the RL-520 Adapter
   • The 50 position connector on the RL-520 is polarized so the cable can only plug in the correct way
2. Plug the RL-520 Adapter directly to the DB37F connector on the back of the RL-520 Indicator

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Specifications subject to change without notice.

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