IRgaskiT Application Note 3

Things to do with your IRgaskiT No.3

If your IRgaskiT is not near a computer but there is a wired network close by you could with a few extra components make your IRgaskiT into a network device to use with any computer connected to the network (or indeed anywhere on the internet if the local network is connected to the internet).

First you will need an IRgaskit with a suitable sensor head you will also need an RS232 to TCP/IP network adapter (we used the Alpha Micro Systems Netport) some ribbon cable, a 9 way D type IDC socket and a 10 way micromatch plug. We used a 10 way ribbon cable and a free plug (ours were from Farnell Part No. 149032 and 1555549).

In order to make the Serial adapter cable for the Netport you will need to cut a few cm of ribbon cable remove ~1cm of conductor #10 from one end. Attach the 9 way ‘D’ socket to the 9 way end of the ribbon cable (wire#1 to pin #1). Attach the 10 way micromatch plug to the ribbon cable (pin#1 to wire #1) a few cm from the ‘D’ type socket

 Figure 1 - Wiring Diagram for our Cable

Once you have checked your cable the 10 way micromatch is plugged into CN3 on the IRgaskiT interface board.

Before it can be used the Netport must be set up to use 57600 Bits per second, 8 Data bits, No Parity, 1 Stop bit and Software Flow Control. This is done by connecting the Netport to the Network and then using the supplied utility (MS Windows) and a PC connected to the same network to find the URL of the Netport. Then using a WEB Browser to edit the settings of the Netport to match those above. 

Once the setup is complete the Nrtport is connected to the 9 way ‘D’ type on the IRgaskiT interface cable. The Netport has a “through” power connection enabling both the Netport and IRgaskiT to be neatly supplied from the same power supply by using one of the Netport power sockets to supply the IRgaskit (see Figure 2 below). 

Figure 2 below shows our Network interface cable connected to an IRgaskiT with a 10% CO2 head.

Figure 2 - Completed Network Interface Cable connected to an IRgaskiT.

If your network is wireless at the position you wish to site the IRgaskit the above configuration may be made into a wireless link by adding a wireless Ethernet bridge or wireless router configured as a bridge. We used a SMC indoor/office unit in our example but you may select the type of unit most suitable to your location. 

 Figure 3 -Wireless Bridge added to Completed Network Interface Cable connected to an IRgaskiT.