Connect Autohelm 4000 to laptop

[Jon Miller]

I would like to connect the Autohelm 4000 to my laptop running "The Cap'n" software. What would be the pin-out? The laptop has a DB-9 Connector.. What would be the settings for the software to control the Autohelm. Also I am thinking that I should purchase an Optical-Isolation box, maybe with three ports, (GPS,Autohelm,Radar). What are your thoughts?

 

[Scott May]

pin outs

The pin outs are as follows....2-TX,3-RX, and 5 GND. This all depends on what the pins are on the output of the GPS. If 2 is TX on the GPS then make 3 TX on the computer end and the same with the RX. If your not familiar with TX and RX, TX means transmit and RX means receive. GND always remains on pin 5. The optic islo is good if you are really concerned about lighting strikes. Any other questions email me at smay@itcdeltacom.com

 

[Amos Cordova]

Opto-Iso cable

The Opto-isolated NMEA GPS cable provides a communications link that has no electrical connections between the GPS and communications port. Isolation is an important consideration if a system uses different power sources, has noisy signals or must operate at different ground potentials. In a data logging or acquisition system the Opto-isolated NMEA GPS cable protects against ground loops between the system controller and monitoring devices. These ground loops create offset voltages which result in reducing the system's noise immunity. A non-isolated path allows RF noise and voltage spikes to appear on the controllers data lines. When this happens the likelihood of data errors and system faults increase. This cable insures against these problems while providing optically isolated signal paths for data. The Opto-isolated NMEA GPS cable provides the optimum performance and protection to your computer work station. This cable also insures the proper performance to your Autopilot or other NMEA 0183 instrument in receiving data from the Cap'n. The Opto-isolated NMEA GPS cable does not include a plug to your GPS unit, this plug is usually supplied by GPS manufacturer as an option. New Opto-isolated cable - 9 pin (after December 1996) : Color Function Connect to Yellow NMEA "A" (Receive data) GPS Output wire (+) Green NMEA "B" (Signal ground) GPS Signal ground (-) Red Capn Transmit data Autopilot (AP) Input and or GPS/Radar Input wire (+) Dark brown / Black Capn Transmit signal ground AP Input ground and or GPS/Radar ground (-) Amos acordova@capjack.com