Daisy chaining DB9 interlocks for one Estop switch? Giving me grief!

[Colin290]

Hi Guys,

Trying to figure this out on my 3 projector setup. I have a Goldenstar Estop and plenty of DB9 cables and three of these DB9 rs232 splitters

The estop is working right as i have tried it with each of the lasers respectively, the db9 cables and splitters are working correctly as I have tested them all individually with the Estop. However when I set up the 3 lasers and daisy chain them together the estop has no effect whatsoever, pressing the Estop has no effect on the laser output. With a 2 laser setup it has worked once or twice correctly but nothing concrete. Are Estops meant to only work on one projector? Is their kill signal too weak to go through a splitter and work on multiple lasers? Or do different Estops work differently? Its a pain in the ass because at first glance it appeared to be a simply solution to Estopping multiple lasers but in practice it just doesn't seem to be working. Anybody had the same problem or have any idea why this wouldn't work?

Cheers

[hitekvoop]

Pop them open one at a time and flip the lead coming from the DB9 to the board and try again. I had the same issue with my Venus'

[dsli_jon]

..I had the same issue with my Venus'

Well, uh.. Respectfully, Sire.. Are the Goldenstar and Lightspace interlock-protocols / boards, whatever.. The same? (Venus is a LS-rig, amirite? Regardless..

Sir Colin - I think, first, we need to understand more about 'what is happening' inside Your interlock-circuits, via the DB-9,s there (Projector-side..) In theory, an interlock circuit should be a simple low-voltage (typically 5-12V DC, tops) 'series' circuit, where the DB-9 / interlock 'jumper' (or, an E-Stop, by extension..) merely completes that, and is then the 'closure' to a solid-state relay, to 'gate' a hard-beam shutter, or 'kill circuit' thru-which modulation is routed, etc, etc..

..What does your GS-protocol 'look' like? What's coming / going to the DB-9s, inside? (typically, it would Only be two-pins, but.. Some OEMs do-have more 'complex' routing / jumpering (ie: we run 'RGB Lasersystems' rigs, and thier DB-9 is actually 4-wires, thru the DB-9, to two-different spots in the PJ, etc..) And - CAREFULLY.. when 'jumpered' (assuming GS gives you some kind of DB-9 jumper-plug, ya?) do either of the pin-inputs, when referenced to Gnd, show any DC voltage? I'd expect maybe 5V..

..If-so, secondly, how are you 'routing this - as a Circuit / 'daisy-chain' - with a Splitter? Not quite getting how you're achieving a '3-stop closed-loop' off a 2-point Y-splitter.. Help me understand..

Where I'm 'going' with this, is.. If you're using a splitter - between - the PJs DB-9, and your E-stop, well.. that's just an 'extension cord'.. But, if you're 'splitting' what should-be a signal Loop - say, One E-stop for 2 (or all 3) Pjs, I think this is where we're introducing trouble.. And/or, yes, it could just be a simple 'voltage drop' / current issue (If the PS feeding the Interlock circuit is 'too-weak' to go thru whatever length all this splitting and daisy-chaining is adding in..)

.But.. First, I think we need to understand How the GS-circuit works - What Voltage is being used (to help you trace it back to 'which PS (and therefore, what it's current rating, etc..) is being used to feed this all..) How many Pins are used off the DB-9, etc, and, How is Your addition / incorporation of the 'splitter' working (in-particular, 'across 3, with a Y'..)

Typically, you'd either need to have - ONE E-stop, with multiple Outs, like a 'hydra', going to Each PJ, individually, or.. You'd mod the PJs to have I/O on the DB-9 (M/F), so you could, indeed, 'daisy' them (and be Sure to feed the circuit with a 'beefy' enough V-supply to overcome the drop thru whatever length of extensions you were using..)

..Moar Info, Pleeze..

cheers..
j

[Bradfo69]

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. I have honestly not gotten around to resolving the problem but maybe two years ago went after the problem with the same thinking and dropped like $100 in cable, Y splitters, gender changers to daisy chain as many as 7 Pluto's. Measured twice, cut once to be perfect for my venue and normal set up and when everything arrived, set it all up and had exactly the same situation. It's on my lengthy to-do list to resolve but, in the end, I think I have to go in a different direction since each is being retrofitted with a Stanwax safety board for compliance.

[buffo]

each is being retrofitted with a Stanwax safety board for compliance.

This is the correct answer. Install an interlock system that supports multiple projectors.

Daisy-chaining the stock Pluto interlock circuit won't work. (They were never designed to be daisy-chained, as I found out when I tried the same thing.) If one projector goes down (say, because you yanked the ILDA cable), the still-intact interlock circuit on the other projectors that are daisy-chained together will back-feed the first projector that should have shut down, and instead that will keep it's interlock circuit satisfied.

Adam

[Colin290]

Hi Folks thanks a lot for the input.

Yeah this is essentially what I was tryin to use lol:

It seems to just be a no go avenue!

As cumbersome as it is I'm using three estops atm and have spoken to Stanwax about getting their boards fitted later this year, and probably get the lasers souped up a bit while they're over there

And yes Bradfo69 I wasted about the same amount on splitters and bits of cables!! should have listened to the advice about the boards to begin with! Ah well...

[stanwax]

One of the big issues here as I explained in email to Colin is that there is no standard for stops, and the interlocks are generally provided so they dont multiply up.
As users of my ILDA board will atest since version 1.03 we have had a facility to dasiy chain many projectors to a single stop. Shortly we will be releasing the latest version of our ILDA board with more features and it will continue to use the daisy chain facility and as the circuit is the same as 1.03 it will be backwared compatible with this board.
Three versions will be avaiable (see the attached image) Panel mount, Intenal and one dedicated for FB4 when fitted inside a projector, and a full announcement will be made in due course.
Rob

[Bradfo69]

Hi Rob... have you gotten any of my e-mails or PM regarding the missing metal panel in my recent order? I haven't gotten a response which I thought was odd.

[stanwax]

UPDATE
Details of new ILDA board here
http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...840#post327840
Rob