Screen control via IO

Kenny

Has anyone used the IO ports on a Netlinx product to control screen up/down.
I have a customer that wants to save a few dollars and use the IO ports on an NI700 to control his Draper screen.
It seems possible but I just want to know if anyone has done this.
Thanks
Kenny

Thomas Hayes

Yes, I have done it, seems to work fine.

DHawthorne

You just have to watch the current draw. Other than that, there is no reason not to use them for a hot trigger. The rating for the IO on an NI chassis, for example is 200 mA @ 12 VDC. As long as the Draper trigger doesn't pull more than that (unlikely), you are fine.

Kenny

DHawthorne wrote:

You just have to watch the current draw. Other than that, there is no reason not to use them for a hot trigger. The rating for the IO on an NI chassis, for example is 200 mA @ 12 VDC. As long as the Draper trigger doesn't pull more than that (unlikely), you are fine.

I wouldn't think that it would draw that much either but I have never tried controlling a screen with an IO. Relays were always the norm.
Thanks.

TurnipTruck

Get yourself a pair of solid state relays, often referred to as SSRs or hockey pucks. They are a high-imedance input and will not attempt to draw enough current that would damage your controller. I beleive the IOs in output mode are open-collector, meaning that you would attach the positive side of both relays to positive voltage on the contoller and the negative side of the relays to the IO outputs.