Purpose This document gives a quick summary of the steps to set up and run the platform. Preparation The setup configurations are shown in Figures 1 and 2, depending on whether a USB or RS232 (serial) connection to the PC is used. Power line Optional PC USB connector Slave Master Optional load Figure 1. Standard Operating Configuration using USB connection to PC March 1, 2004 1
Power line Optional PC Serial connector Slave Master Optional load Figure 2. Standard Operating Configuration using RS232 connection to PC 1. Verify that the is configured for the correct operating voltage. a. Look at the window on the inlet fuse holder to see which voltage is configured, either 115V or 230V (Figure 3). Voltage indication Figure 3. Inlet fuse holder voltage indication window. b. If the incorrect voltage is shown in window, then disconnect the power cord, pry open the cover, and pry out the fuse holder. Rotate the fuse holder and re-insert into the holder. Push down the cover securely. See Figure 4. Figure 4. Fuse cover removal and holder rotation March 1, 2004 2
2. Attach the power cords between the two s and the power strip. 3. If desired, attach a load to the slave. This load will be used to draw current and give the e- meter something to measure. Ensure that the load does not draw any more than 10A, or the output will be overloaded, possibly resulting in damage to the. Warning: The output load connector is still powered even when the power switch is turned OFF! 4. Connect the master to a PC using the USB or RS232 cable supplied. a. Notes: 1. The master is the where the SLAVE jumper is not populated. 2. If USB connection is desired, the 232 jumper must be removed. 3. If serial connection is desired, the 232 jumper must be populated. b. For serial port connection: the serial cable is gray and has a 9-pin D-shell connector (one end male, the other female) on either end. Attach the male end of the cable to the D- shell connector on the master. The other female end is connected to the male connector on the PC. Figure 2 shows the location of the RS-232 connector on the platform box. c. For USB port connection: the USB cable has a flat connector ( A connector) on one end and a box connector ( B connector) on the other. Attach the A connector to the PC s USB port and the B connector to the master. Figure 1 shows the location of the USB connector on the platform box. 5. Plug the power strip into AC power. 6. Turn on the slave first, and then the master. 7. Verify that, after a slight pause for initialization, the Rx_Search and Tx_packet lights begin to alternately blink. Eventually the two s will find each other. This can be verified by checking that these four lights illuminate in sequence on each : Rx Search, Rx AGC Hold, Rx Frame Align, and Rx Packet Good. Installing the Control Software The platform needs the control software to run error rates over the power line. The control software needs only be installed once. The setup program is found in the CD s D:\GUI directory. Install the software by double-clicking the V1R2.EXE file in the D:\GUI directory. Unzip the files to this directory: C:\ C:\TI_Platform\PLC. Several files will be copied into the specified directory. If you do not have Matlab Version 6.0, you will need to install the Matlab libraries by double clicking on the mglarchive.exe file found in the C:\TI_Platform\PLC directory after unzipping. This will install two subdirectory trees call BIN and TOOLBOX and place the necessary Matlab library files (DLLs) in them. Installation of USB Drivers The platform can either be run using a serial port or through a USB port. If operation through a USB port is desired, it is necessary to install USB drivers. If the serial port is to be used, please skip this section and proceed to Running the PLC Software. To install the drivers, double-click one of the following files on the CD: If your operating system is Windows 98: TUSB3410_9x.exe If your operating system is Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows NT: TUSB3410_2K.exe March 1, 2004 3
These programs will copy the proper drivers to the C:\Program Files\Texas Instruments\TI TUSB3410 Win9x Driver Installation Files Setup or C:\Program Files\Texas Instruments\TI TUSB3410 Win2K Driver Installation Files Setup directory. Next, connect the USB cable between the computer and the Master demonstration box (the box with the SLAVE jumper not populated). Connect power to the demonstration box. Ensure that the 232 jumper on the master is removed to enable USB operation. If the USB drivers have not been previously installed, the computer will display the Found New Hardware Wizard. When prompted for a driver, point the wizard to the directory of the driver files (by selecting the option in the wizard that allows you to specify a location of the driver files and then browse to that directory). Press OK, and all the files will load. Note that the wizard may prompt for the file twice. Point the wizard to this same directory both times. If you have already plugged in the device and Windows has determined it to be an Other/Unknown device, you must select the device in the Windows Device Manager (under the Unknown/Other Device Class), display the properties for the device (by double-clicking it), and then click the Update Driver button on the Driver properties tab. This will then bring up a wizard that you need to point to the directory of the driver files. Running the Software 1. Double-click on PLC.bat icon (shortcut) or run manually the file PLC.bat from the \TI_Platform\PLC subdirectory using the RUN menu. A DOS panel pops up, followed by the GUI. 2. The program will display a dialog that asks which COM port to use (COM1, COM2, COM3, or COM4) or whether it should scan through these COM ports to find the one connected to the PLC. 3. If the program gives an error message, check that the USB or RS232 cable is connected and that the power is connected to the platform board. Try to re-search for the COM port to find the correct one for your computer (under the File menu in the GUI). Please note that COM ports may be used by other applications on your PC (e.g., Palm Pilot synchronization programs) or may be disabled in your BIOS. If the program indicates that certain files cannot be found, ensure that the program was installed in the proper directory. The batch file expects the program to be installed in the C:\TI_Platform\PLC directory. If the program was installed to a different directory, the batch file must be modified to point to the new directory name. See the Power Line Modem with E-meter Platform Getting Started Guide for more details and troubleshooting. March 1, 2004 4
Figure 4. GUI Program Screen 4. To verify proper slave e-meter functioning, use the Read Meter button to get various readings from the slave. Use the radio buttons to select what to read. If Cycle is selected, all of the readings on the list will be read, one at a time. If the Continuous box is checked, then the selected reading will be read at the interval entered in the Interval box. Note that the Slave radio button needs to be selected to read e-meter readings from the slave. a. Note: if the readings appear unusual, the e-meter voltage and frequency setting may be incorrect. Set the voltage and frequency setting using the selection under the File menu in the GUI. 5. Attach a load to the slave s load connector. The PLC kit includes an IEC-320-C13 to IEC-320- C14 adapter that can connect to, for example, the input of a computer monitor or computer. Attaching the load will give the e-meter some current, voltage, and power to measure. Note that the output power connector is always hot the switch does not take the power away from this connector. Power outlet connector Figure 5. Power outlet connector March 1, 2004 5
For s used in North America, an adapter has been provided that converts between the power outlet connector and a 3-prong power plug. Then any appliance can be connected to the power outlet connector. The output connector is fused at 10A. Do not exceed the rating of the output connector. 6. The bit error rate of packets traversing between the s can be checked using the GUI. Type the number of packets to be measured (for example, 100) into the text entry box after the of in the BER portion of the GUI. Press the Start BER button. The test can be aborted in the middle by pressing the same button (the GUI relabels it Abort BER while the test is running). At the conclusion of the test, the number of missed packets and number of bit errors in packets that were detected properly are displayed, along with the log (base 10) of the respective error rates. March 1, 2004 6
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