i am looking to control 16 devices on one side with 16 switches on the other side and vise versa. thats 32 i/o. right now i would be running a 50 cond. cord between the two boards. i would like to run one or two fiber optic cables between the two boards. or i can also run a cat 5 cable between. i just need to be able to have 16 signals go both ways at the same time. please help me. :? :?:

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electronics rule

 

You seem to be looking for the most complicated and difficult way you can find?, how far apart are the two boards?.

Basically you simply convert the parallel data to serial and send it down a link, at the receiver end you convert it back, PIC's would be ideal for this!.

The kind of link you use depends on a number of factors, how far it's got to travel, speed required etc.

The simplest would be a single wire each way, with a common ground - for longer distances you could use RS232, IR links, radio links, optical linkks etc.

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PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at:
http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

 

couldnt i just use some multiplexers to do this and hook them up to the fiber transmitter and reciever.

__________________
electronics rule

 

You could certainly do it in hardware, but it would be FAR more complicated than software - don't forget you need to synchronise the two ends - this usually means start and stop bits, and possibly parity bits.

How far apart are you wanting to go?, and how fast?.

__________________
PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at:
http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

 

i am looking at approximately 50 to 100feet. and speed is not a big factor. it just has to switch when i hit the button.

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electronics rule

 

im not to sure on how to program the pics. i downloaded win pics and dont under stand it.

__________________
electronics rule

 

You should be able to do that quite easily down a piece of wire, particularly as speed isn't an issue. It would perhaps be an idea to use a MAX232 at either end, the +/-12V of RS232 travels better than 5V.

As for PIC programming it's really like any other kind of programming. For your application, requiring 16 inputs and outputs, this would require two 8 bit bytes sending and receiving, you could either do it like that (but it would require some kind of synchronising code (to make sure the two bytes are the correct way round). Or you could ignore the 8 bit UART, and use a software one - but make it a 16 bit UART rather than an eight bit one. This would give an 18 bit word, start bit, 16 data bits, and a stop bit.

__________________
PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at:
http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

 

im not used to computer programing. i dont know to much about the programing of the pic. i am used to plcs from allen braddly. those i can program. the pics look like they are more along the lines of computer programing. i dont know how to do that.

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electronics rule

 

They are computer programming, so you may be stuck with trying to build a hardware solution - or learning programming?.

You could use a computer UART chip at either end, but that only gives you 8 lines - making it 16 would require a lot more work.

__________________
PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at:
http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

 

u can easily use am modulated switch rf for more details mail me

 

You can program it in asembely laguage or use compilers for Basic,C,Pascal.

then you need a programer (its a device thet you plug the pic in and upload your program) and the acual PIC microcontroler

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Il give you shocking experience.

 

If you are going to use PIC, and you don't know how to program it, please Read
Sticky: Newcommers, please read! (PIC regarded) Upd. 3

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