Model 54035A User’s Manual
Fax: (765) 423-4111 . www.lafayetteinstrument.com . [email protected]
7
Optional Accessories
The 54035A currently has two accessory items that may be useful in some applications
Banana Plug Interface:
Provides a way to connect standard banana plugs to the external input terminal blocks.
Timer Control Software:
Provides a software program to control the timing and counting functions of the timer
via the computer. Also provides data storage capability so that timing data can be stored in a file and analyzed
at a later date.
Contact Lafayette Instrument about pricing and availability of these products.
Communications
The 54035A provides a communications port so that it can be connected through a computer via a standard
serial port. The main purpose of this function is to provide a way to get the data collected by the timer into the
computer for storage and analysis. An effort was made to keep the communication protocol and commands
simple enough so that the user could easily write their own timer control application. In the event that resources
are unavailable for writing applications, a ready made software program is available from Lafayette Instrument.
The serial port on the computer should be set as shown below:
Serial communication protocol: 4800 baud, no parity, 8 bit ASCII, 1 stop bit or (4800,N,8,1).
The 54035A sends and receives only ASCII characters. Each control is activated by sending a single ASCII
character ( the timer is case sensitive):
ASCII
Function
S
- Start
1
- Stop1
2
- Stop2
3
- Stop3
4
- Stop4
C
- Begin run/count
E
- End run/count
M
- Mode
R
- Reset
D
- Upload data
When the “Upload Data” command is issued, the timer will respond by sending all time and count data (even
if it is zero). The data is sent as seven ASCII bytes per data value in this order: Count1, Time1, Time2, Time3,
Time4, Count2, Count3. The serial buffer, therefore, should be set up to receive 49 bytes with the length set to
7. Once the data is received, it can be broken up into its seven character data sets.
If the mode menu is accessed via the serial port, the computer will need to send, in succession, the same
ASCII value as the number requested on the timer display (if the choice is “1-single 2-multiple” send a “1” or a
“2” and so on).
The data sent to computer is the same as displayed on the timer. For example, if stop1 is pressed on the front
panel, that data will be placed in time1 on the serial communication. In multiple timer mode, the master time
data will be placed in time1 no matter which stop is pressed. Likewise, the count data will be placed in count1,
the data for run1 will be placed in time2 and count 2, and the data for run2 will be placed in time3 and count3.
There will be no count2 or count3 data available in single timer mode. Also, run1 and run2 are not accessible
through the computer, only through the back panel. However, the data for these inputs can be uploaded to
the computer.
