32
Serial Communication
Serial Communication
Connecting your device to a computer allows you to log the data that it
generates. The pressure controller communicates digitally through its
communications connector and cable using a real or virtual COM port on
your computer. This section of the manual shows you how to operate the
flow controller using ASCII commands.
Establishing Communication
After connecting your pressure controller using a communications cable,
you will need to establish serial communications through a real or virtual
COM port on your computer or programmable logic computer (PLC).
•
If you have connected your device to a serial port, note its COM
port number. This can be found in Windows® Device Manager.
•
If you have used a USB cable to connect your device to your
computer, then in most cases it will recognize your USB as a
virtual COM port. If it does not, download the appropriate USB
device driver at
and note the COM port
number as found in Windows® Device Manager.
The controller will be configured with the following settings:
• Baud:
19200 (by default; others can be used if the computer,
its software and the controller are all set to the same rate)
• Data bits:
8
• Parity:
none
• Stop bits:
1
• Flow control:
none
Alicat’s Serial Terminal Application
Alicat’s Serial Terminal is a preconfigured program for serial communica-
tions that functions much like the older Windows® HyperTerminal.
Download Serial Terminal for free at
. Once downloaded,
simply run SerialTerminal.exe. Enter the COM port number to which your
device is connected and the baud rate of the flow controller. The default
baud rate is 19200, but this is adjustable by entering the
SERIAL COMM
Menu on your flow controller:
MENU
→
ADV SETUP
→
COMM SETUP
→
BAUD
(previous page).
