CABLING
CARETAKER PLUS INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL
7
One of the most important steps in installing the Caretaker Plus is to connect the correct
cables. We have tried to give as much information as possible to specify the correct
cable. Please refer to Appendix A and B. Also refer to the previous section.
Parallel Cabling
Parallel units with Centronics connectors use standard IBM parallel cables to connect
from PCs to the switch (port 1-8). A straight through cable with male Centronics
connectors on each end is used to connect from the switch (port 0) to the printer.
Parallel units with female DB25 connectors use a straight through cable with male DB25
connectors on each end to connect from PCs to the switch (ports 1-8). A standard IBM
parallel printer cable is used to connect from the switch (port 0) to the printer.
Parallel cabling in excess of 25 feet in length should be routed with caution. The
maximum distance that a cable may be run is dependent upon the construction of the
cable and its routing. For extended distances, shielded cable or ribbon cable should be
used. Routing near machines that may create electrical noise, such as elevator motors,
fluorescent lights, or air conditioning compressors should be avoided. Typically a cable
run for 100 feet will work reliably but is not guaranteed. Low capacitance cable should
be specified for long lengths of cable. Rose Electronics can construct the proper cabling
to your specified length.
Serial Cabling
Proper serial cabling and pinout is crucial in the installation of your serial port peripheral.
Appendix A gives a comprehensive list of the cable pinouts required for a successful
installation.
Serial cabling in excess of 100 feet should be routed with caution. The maximum cable
length depends upon the construction of the cable and its routing. For extended runs,
shielded cable should be used. Avoid routing near fluorescent lights, air conditioning
compressors, or machines that may create electrical noise. Cable length and baud rate
are inversely proportional: the longer the cable, the slower the baud rate must be. The
RS-232-C specification recommends a maximum cable length of 50 feet at 9600 baud,
however, with low capacitance cables, runs of greater distance are often successful.
Rose Electronics can construct the proper cabling to your specified length.
CONFIGURATION
Configuration is unnecessary if the factory default settings are acceptable (see
APPENDIX D for the FACTORY DEFAULT SETTINGS. The most common items to be
configured are the timeout, initialization string, form feed, and for serial units the
protocol.
There are two methods to configure the unit --by menu and by command. The
configuration menu can only be accessed through a serial port. Parallel units are
required to be configured by command. Serial units can be configured by command, but
it is usually more convenient to use the configuration menu.
To access the configuration menu, a dumb terminal or a PC emulating a dumb terminal
must be connected to port 1. The PC or terminal must be set to 9600 baud, 8 bits, no-
parity, 1 stop bit. After connecting your terminal or PC, power up the Caretaker Plus and
wait for the power up tests to complete. When no LEDs on the front panel are lit, press
both front panel switches at the same time. The MODE and BUSY LEDs will illuminate
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