Today I finally got to turn on power to the Griz. X3 W Syil conversion! Couldn't get the motors to budge and discovered the PC mother board, MSI K9MM-V (just installed) outputs 3.3V on the parallel port pins inplace of the old 5V. Are their any solutions internally before I buy a PCI LPT-port card to plug in? Couldn't find anything in the Quick User's Guide except "3 PCI slots, support 3.3V/ 5V PCI bus interface." Maybe that means 3.3V is supposed to be enough for a signal high but hope 5V is an option.

This is so much fun, I can only imagine what it must be like to actually make something cool, like a key chain cross.

Thanks, delwood

The PCI voltage has nothing to do with the LPT port voltage. IIRC, Older PCI cards used 5v, newer ones use 3.3v.

Odd that the MSI motherboard uses 3.3v.

D.

Is mother acting up again? :D

Is mother acting up again? :D

Yes and i don't know what to do! delwood

The PCI voltage has nothing to do with the LPT port voltage. IIRC, Older PCI cards used 5v, newer ones use 3.3v.

Odd that the MSI motherboard uses 3.3v.

D.

So ......I need to find an older PCI card. I tried the computer stores here this morning and everything seems to be 3.3v. Anyone have a spare 5v. they would part with?

delwood

Call me crazy, but I'm using a PMDX Break out Board and am powering that from the power supply of the computer with 12v. It is taking care of that 5V little issue.

Not sure on the Sysil though, what break out board are they using? Have you called their tech support. They also have a support Forum here as well.

Smitty

I solved it by just using an optocoupler stage that will eat 3.3v or whatever just fine, and outputs a nice healthy 5v. A lot of opto breakout boards work like this. It needs a separate 5v power supply to drive it, so I cut up a USB extension cord - ignore the center two data lines and just use it as an isolated 5v supply. Red wire (+5v) to the opto supply, black (Gnd) to pins 18-25 on the breakout board, ignore the middle two data lines.
Saves dealing with another wall wart or separate supply in the driver enclosure, it is stable and isolated from the motor supply, and that way you can use a laptop or whatever to drive the system.

Call me crazy, but I'm using a PMDX Break out Board and am powering that from the power supply of the computer with 12v. It is taking care of that 5V little issue.

Not sure on the Syil though, what break out board are they using? Have you called their tech support. They also have a support Forum here as well.

Smitty

My Syil drivers have opto isolated inputs requiring 5v to turn on the LEDs, so a break out board is only needed if the 5v isn't available. Their first suggestion was a PCI card and then a break out board. I've found a new card on line under $13.00 and thought I'd try it?

I use their tech support a lot because I'm such a newbie. I'll look for their Forum here. That would not only help me but help free up Richard and Rod for their other customers!

Thanks, Del

I solved it by just using an optocoupler stage that will eat 3.3v or whatever just fine, and outputs a nice healthy 5v. A lot of opto breakout boards work like this. It needs a separate 5v power supply to drive it, so I cut up a USB extension cord - ignore the center two data lines and just use it as an isolated 5v supply. Red wire (+5v) to the opto supply, black (Gnd) to pins 18-25 on the breakout board, ignore the middle two data lines.
Saves dealing with another wall wart or separate supply in the driver enclosure, it is stable and isolated from the motor supply, and that way you can use a laptop or whatever to drive the system.

Thanks! This is detailed enough I can duplicate if a new 5V PCI card ordered doesn't do the trick. Along with the new mother board, I installed a new and larger power supply, so good to go there. I almost went with a laptop and knowing this now it might still be an option down the road when the budget has recovered.

delwood