Tim Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 Ok, I'm trying to connect my ELL to my laptop and I can't get the Hardware Utility to recognize it. It keeps telling me there are no RFs detected. I have it connected to my USB485 (updated driver installed). Am I using the wrong USB adapter for an ELL or am I doing something else wrong? I have troubledshooted the adapter and it does work without the ELL directly attached. Any help is very much appreciated.Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted October 31, 2009 Share Posted October 31, 2009 You need a USB485B (USB to RS485 with voltage booster). The voltage booster generates the power required by an ELL. The regular USB485 does not generate this voltage.If you can't wait to get a USB485B, you can connect a controller to the ELL. A controller has the voltage required by an ELL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-Paul Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Steven, just for discussion I ask this question.On a laptop there is not as much power available at the USB port as there is available when using a desktop or tower. So, with that in mind. Will the basic USB to RS-485 adapter and ELL work if plugged into a desktop or tower type computer?Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted November 1, 2009 Author Share Posted November 1, 2009 Steven,Thanks for the info. After I typed this last night I did a few more troubleshooting and figured it had to be the adapter not having the power. The laptop worked fine directly plugged into the controller so that's when I figured it's an adapter issue. Thanks again for solving my issue.Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmoore60 Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Max-Paul wrote: Steven, just for discussion I ask this question.On a laptop there is not as much power available at the USB port as there is available when using a desktop or tower. So, with that in mind. Will the basic USB to RS-485 adapter and ELL work if plugged into a desktop or tower type computer?ThanksMax,No those adapters will not work from a desktop or tower to power an ELL.The RS-485 get's its electronics powered by the controller network. This is why there is a network cable limitation of approx 100' when using this adapter. The straight USB485 has it's electronic powered from the USB port but as far as I know does not supply power out the cat 5 connector on to the LOR network.Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 A computer (laptop or desktop) supplies 5 volts through the USB port.The ELL needs 9 volts from the LOR network. This is supplied by a LOR controller or the USB485B. The USB485B has a voltage doubler that takes the 5 volts from the USB connection and steps it up to 10 volts to power the ELL through the LOR network.The regular USB485 does not supply any power to the LOR network. It does, however use the 5 volts from the USB connection to power itself, without relying on the LOR power, like the RS-485 does.The ELL user guide says it requires 150mA from the 9-volt supply on the LOR network (to transmit). For the USB485B to supply this current from the 5-volt USB connection, it would need to draw at least double that (300mA). The USB spec says the maximum current is 500mA, but hubs (and probably laptops) can limit that to something lower.It's possible to use an external power supply (e.g. a wall wart) to power the ELL by splicing into pins 3 and 6 of the LOR network, but that's not the best permanent solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmoore60 Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Sorry! That is the unit I meant...but used the incorrect wording.That is what you get for not getting enough sleep during the day.Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-Paul Posted November 1, 2009 Share Posted November 1, 2009 Steven et all,Thanks for clearing that up for me. I believe that back some time ago I did read this, but had forgotten. I suppose it's one of those things that you remember things that interest you here and now, not a few years down the road.Thanks for taking the time to answer my question gents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightORamaDan Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 Tim wrote: Ok, I'm trying to connect my ELL to my laptop and I can't get the Hardware Utility to recognize it. It keeps telling me there are no RFs detected. I have it connected to my USB485 (updated driver installed). Am I using the wrong USB adapter for an ELL or am I doing something else wrong? I have troubledshooted the adapter and it does work without the ELL directly attached. Any help is very much appreciated.TimThere was a bug introduced in the Hardware Utility very reciently. It will be fixed soon.The Hardware Utility does not auto detect the ELL but there is an easy work around. When you start the hardware utiltiy click the LOR RF tab then click the get configuration. It will then sync up with the ELL.Will be fixed this week.Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailrider Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 Glad to hear that Dan! I thought I was having an ELL go south on me. I did figure out the work around using the "Get Configuration" button while working with the units. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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