Controlling Switches and Motors via Parallel Port - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

JobbinJP · 13th March 2007, 08:29 AM

Hi!

Could you help me in controlling a switch or a motor (i.e turning on /off and changing direction) by my computr via the parallel port .

Also tell me how to programme it using Microsoft Visual Basic (i have a little experience using it , in my school course )

ericgibbs · 13th March 2007, 08:42 AM

hi jobbin,

If you are using Win XP you will require a routine called inpout32.dll, this will enable your VB programs to control the parallel port.

If you have Win 98 or 98SE then your VB should have easy access to the port.

Lets know what your Win operating system is.???

At the end of the printer cable you are using, you will need a small pcb, so that you can mount the LED's and other components.

If you want to drive items like motors and relays, you will need a bench power supply to power them.

If you cannot write your own VB program, we will guide you.

Eric

JobbinJP · 13th March 2007, 08:44 AM

i have windows XP

JobbinJP · 13th March 2007, 08:45 AM

the other end of the printer cable is just like the parallel port pin (female). How do i connect the pcb to a pin like this ! What PCB?

inpout32.dll - where do i get it from? I dont know if i have it!

ericgibbs · 13th March 2007, 09:00 AM

hi,

Do a google search for inpout32.dll, its freeware. When you have downloaded it, place it in your Windows/system32 directory.

If the parallel cable you have is a spare one, you can either get the mating plug, so that you can solder wires to that
or cut off the socket from the end of the cable.
You will have to make a note of which wire goes to which pin on the other end.

Which ever way you choose of connecting the 'free' end of the cable you will require a PCB [ printed circuit board]
or something similar so that you can fix your LED's too.
You could just hang them to the end of the wires, but that will soon become a 'pain' to keep working on.

If you are not sure if you have inpout32.dll, use XP to search your hard drive, its unlikely that you already have it.

Eric

JobbinJP · 13th March 2007, 09:02 AM

ok! i got the inpout32.dll and the source code ! now what do i do?

ericgibbs · 13th March 2007, 09:14 AM

hi,
When you have downloaded it, place it in your Windows/system32 directory

Attached is VB5 i/o program that you can use and modify to suit your projects.
Paste the inpout text part in your VB prog as a module, the rest of the text as the VB form, OK.

When you have prepared the end of the printer cable, let us know and we will explain the next step.

Do you have multimeter ?

Eric

JobbinJP · 13th March 2007, 09:18 AM

how do i connect the pcb to the female end of the parallel port cable
yes i do have a multimeter .

ok my cable is ready!!

But i got a vb-test program along with it

But what do i do for the form?
I didnt get any VB5 o/i form with it!

JobbinJP · 13th March 2007, 09:27 AM

if you have the form can u send me an image of it ? i can make (i'll try to).

they are asking for 'dllport.dll'

ericgibbs · 13th March 2007, 09:30 AM

hi,
This from my previous post.

If the parallel cable you have is a spare one, you can either get the mating plug, so that you can solder wires to that
or cut off the socket from the end of the cable.
You will have to make a note of which wire goes to which pin on the other end.

Which ever way you choose of connecting the 'free' end of the cable you will require a PCB [ printed circuit board]
or something similar so that you can fix your LED's too.
You could just hang them to the end of the wires, but that will soon become a 'pain' to keep working on.

You can use the VB program that came with the inpout32.dll if you wish.

As a test, connect your meter to pins #2 and pin#19 of the cable and set the meter to 10 volts say, use the VB program to switch pin2 ON/OFF. The volt meter should read about 0v or +5v as you switch the pin.

Google for parallel printer port pinout for the rest of the pin assignments.

Eric

JobbinJP · 13th March 2007, 09:38 AM

ok i got a program with the following txt box- (adress) and (data) and it has two command buttons (in) and (out).

How does this program work? this program had come with the 'inpout.dll'

im very sorry but i'm using a digital multimeter! and all i have is DC , AC , Ohms , Continuity !

JobbinJP · 13th March 2007, 09:40 AM

how do i switch pin 2 on?
what shouldd i type in adreess?
What in data?
which button to press in/out ?

Hey! but without doing anything itself there is 5v between pin2 and pin19

(you might find me irritating but i'm just 14 and i dont kno much bout electronics)

ericgibbs · 13th March 2007, 09:57 AM

how do i switch pin 2 on? what shouldd i type in adreess? ............ Port 378

What in data? which button to press in/out ?.............. make data 0, press out.

What in data? which button to press in/out ?............ make data 255, press out

Its possible that you have +5v already on pin 2, its the way its configured.

Using your DC meter can you turn pin #2 ON and OFF ???

Eric

JobbinJP · 13th March 2007, 10:06 AM

there is no change in DC volts when data is 0 and 255!

JobbinJP · 13th March 2007, 10:35 AM

hey man!! it Worked!! koool .

But doesn't it have enough ampere for a motor?

and how did you know that to activate pin# 2 it is port 378?
how can i know how to activate pin# 5 or any other pin?

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13th March 2007, 08:29 AM	(permalink)
JobbinJP	Controlling Switches and Motors via Parallel Port Hi! Could you help me in controlling a switch or a motor (i.e turning on /off and changing direction) by my computr via the parallel port . Also tell me how to programme it using Microsoft Visual Basic (i have a little experience using it , in my school course )

13th March 2007, 08:42 AM	(permalink)
ericgibbs	hi jobbin, If you are using Win XP you will require a routine called inpout32.dll, this will enable your VB programs to control the parallel port. If you have Win 98 or 98SE then your VB should have easy access to the port. Lets know what your Win operating system is.??? At the end of the printer cable you are using, you will need a small pcb, so that you can mount the LED's and other components. If you want to drive items like motors and relays, you will need a bench power supply to power them. If you cannot write your own VB program, we will guide you. Eric

13th March 2007, 08:44 AM	(permalink)
JobbinJP	i have windows XP

13th March 2007, 08:45 AM	(permalink)
JobbinJP	the other end of the printer cable is just like the parallel port pin (female). How do i connect the pcb to a pin like this ! What PCB? inpout32.dll - where do i get it from? I dont know if i have it! Last edited by JobbinJP; 13th March 2007 at 08:48 AM.

13th March 2007, 09:00 AM	(permalink)
ericgibbs	hi, Do a google search for inpout32.dll, its freeware. When you have downloaded it, place it in your Windows/system32 directory. If the parallel cable you have is a spare one, you can either get the mating plug, so that you can solder wires to that or cut off the socket from the end of the cable. You will have to make a note of which wire goes to which pin on the other end. Which ever way you choose of connecting the 'free' end of the cable you will require a PCB [ printed circuit board] or something similar so that you can fix your LED's too. You could just hang them to the end of the wires, but that will soon become a 'pain' to keep working on. If you are not sure if you have inpout32.dll, use XP to search your hard drive, its unlikely that you already have it. Eric Last edited by ericgibbs; 13th March 2007 at 09:03 AM.

13th March 2007, 09:02 AM	(permalink)
JobbinJP	ok! i got the inpout32.dll and the source code ! now what do i do?

13th March 2007, 09:14 AM	(permalink)
ericgibbs	hi, When you have downloaded it, place it in your Windows/system32 directory Attached is VB5 i/o program that you can use and modify to suit your projects. Paste the inpout text part in your VB prog as a module, the rest of the text as the VB form, OK. When you have prepared the end of the printer cable, let us know and we will explain the next step. Do you have multimeter ? Eric Last edited by ericgibbs; 7th July 2008 at 11:18 AM.

13th March 2007, 09:18 AM	(permalink)
JobbinJP	how do i connect the pcb to the female end of the parallel port cable yes i do have a multimeter . ok my cable is ready!! But i got a vb-test program along with it But what do i do for the form? I didnt get any VB5 o/i form with it! Last edited by JobbinJP; 13th March 2007 at 09:26 AM.

13th March 2007, 09:27 AM	(permalink)
JobbinJP	if you have the form can u send me an image of it ? i can make (i'll try to). they are asking for 'dllport.dll' Last edited by JobbinJP; 13th March 2007 at 09:33 AM.

13th March 2007, 09:30 AM	(permalink)
ericgibbs	hi, This from my previous post. If the parallel cable you have is a spare one, you can either get the mating plug, so that you can solder wires to that or cut off the socket from the end of the cable. You will have to make a note of which wire goes to which pin on the other end. Which ever way you choose of connecting the 'free' end of the cable you will require a PCB [ printed circuit board] or something similar so that you can fix your LED's too. You could just hang them to the end of the wires, but that will soon become a 'pain' to keep working on. You can use the VB program that came with the inpout32.dll if you wish. As a test, connect your meter to pins #2 and pin#19 of the cable and set the meter to 10 volts say, use the VB program to switch pin2 ON/OFF. The volt meter should read about 0v or +5v as you switch the pin. Google for parallel printer port pinout for the rest of the pin assignments. Eric

13th March 2007, 09:38 AM	(permalink)
JobbinJP	ok i got a program with the following txt box- (adress) and (data) and it has two command buttons (in) and (out). How does this program work? this program had come with the 'inpout.dll' im very sorry but i'm using a digital multimeter! and all i have is DC , AC , Ohms , Continuity ! Last edited by JobbinJP; 13th March 2007 at 09:47 AM.

13th March 2007, 09:40 AM	(permalink)
JobbinJP	how do i switch pin 2 on? what shouldd i type in adreess? What in data? which button to press in/out ? Hey! but without doing anything itself there is 5v between pin2 and pin19 (you might find me irritating but i'm just 14 and i dont kno much bout electronics) Last edited by JobbinJP; 13th March 2007 at 09:57 AM.

13th March 2007, 09:57 AM	(permalink)
ericgibbs	how do i switch pin 2 on? what shouldd i type in adreess? ............ Port 378 What in data? which button to press in/out ?.............. make data 0, press out. What in data? which button to press in/out ?............ make data 255, press out Its possible that you have +5v already on pin 2, its the way its configured. Using your DC meter can you turn pin #2 ON and OFF ??? Eric

13th March 2007, 10:06 AM	(permalink)
JobbinJP	there is no change in DC volts when data is 0 and 255!

13th March 2007, 10:35 AM	(permalink)
JobbinJP	hey man!! it Worked!! koool . But doesn't it have enough ampere for a motor? and how did you know that to activate pin# 2 it is port 378? how can i know how to activate pin# 5 or any other pin? Last edited by JobbinJP; 13th March 2007 at 10:37 AM.