
The LINK™ Family Manual
Version 1.6 ©iButtonLink, LLC 2016
Page 56
A
PPENDIX
A: Power Issues and Requirements
The Link12, Link12i, Link45,
and
Link45i
devices obtain power to operate by “robbing” it
from two of the host DBN-9 serial port’s available signal lines. These signals (DTR and RTS)
should both be held in the high state for best performance. However, the LINK device will often
operate just fine with only one of these lines high. The LINK
TM
devices use an efficient
switching regulator to convert the port pin power to useable levels with minimal losses.
Different terminal programs handle the signal lines in different ways. If both RTS and DTR are
taken low for a few seconds, The LINK device will be robbed of all power and will be reset to its
power-up state. If the host computer is a very low power type, such as a laptop or palm-top
computer, it may not provide sufficient operation power for the LINK device. In the situation
where port power may not be sufficient, it is important to make sure that the host program holds
both DTR and RTS in the high state.
Many very small (palm-top) computers generate serial signals that are as low as 3 volts (which
are not legal RS232 voltages). These computers will NOT work with the LINK
TM
devices.
Desktop PCs and quality laptops will provide valid RS232 signal levels and more than enough
power to operate the LINK device.
The LINK
TM
devices provide an auxiliary I/O line on the RJ connector. This line, by default, is
driven to the high impedance state and left unpowered. When set to the 5V level by the “ d ”
command, this line can be used to provide power for type 1-Wire® devices. However, the
current available from this output is limited. The amount of current that the Aux line can provide
depends on the amount of power available from the serial port used. As a rule, the load on the
Aux line should be limited to less than 20 mA.
Conversely, the
LinkHub-S and LinkHub-E require an external power source in order to
operate.
These two products need a supply that provides
500 mA of +12 V
. The DC barrel
should have the specifications found below in Table 7.
OD
5.5 mm
ID
2.5 mm
Length
11.8 mm
Other
Negative to center post
Table 7: DC barrel specifications