Paramount ME
Adaptor Panel +5V Power Modification
Background
By performing this modification, you
have a very clean and convenient solution to powering a Bluetooth or
Wi-Fi adaptor.
NOTE:
Software Bisque has redesigned the
Adaptor Panel to power third-party devices (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth) as
well as perform hardware handshaking required by some Bluetooth
devices. The new
adaptor panel can supply the +5 volts directly to pin 9 of the
serial port and a tie pins 7 and 8 where needed using 2 DIP
switches. The Adaptor Panel Revision F can be purchased from the
Software Bisque Store. If you are leery about performing the
modification purchasing a newer updated model is the better option.
Please refer to the latest
Paramount ME manual for details.
To remove the Adaptor
Panel you will need a 5/32-inch hex
key. One is supplied with the
Paramount ME. Start by removing
the
14 - 10/32 NF by 3/4th socket cap screws that hold the adaptor panel in
place.
You will also have to
remove the wires from the backside of the adaptor panel before it will
become free. The purple power cable, the ribbon cable, and the DIN
power cable. Note the location of each before removing them. All but one of the connectors are notched (idiot proofed). This is
connector labeled J3 where the purple power cable is connected.
The purple wire that
supplies power to the adaptor panel must be oriented such that the
notched side of the white connector faces TOWARDS the
large black heat sink. See below showing exactly this. Plugging any power connector in backwards is asking for trouble!
Purple Power
cable
Be careful!
Other connectors
are notched or keyed
Note keys on the other connectors!
Again, be careful when
reconnecting the cables. With a bit of force you can still plug a notched cable in backwards!
+5 volt power source for
Bluetooth adaptor - how cool is that?
WARNING!
If you are
inexperienced at
soldering it is best to have someone else perform the
modification for you! Or contact
Software Bisque directly for options. You must be very
careful soldering the wire in place and you must avoid the
possibility of the wire shorting out by touching the other pins on
either side. See the disclaimer below.
HINT: A bit of
Hot Glue will keep the wires in place and keep them from being
shorted. Place glue around all the connectors used in
the modification.
The female serial port connector is
the one located closest to the large black heat sink. The location
is indicated below. Also note the pins being used in the
modification are highlighted. The advantage to this easy to perform
mod is you don't have to remove the adaptor panel from the housing
and there is nothing to get in the way of soldering the +5 volt line
to Pin 9. As long as you are careful to short across adjacent
contacts you will be fine.
The pin to use is square not round by
the way!
If your Bluetooth adaptor doesn't
require hardware handshaking don't bother tying pin 7 to pin 8! Even
easier!
NOTE: Tying pins 7 and 8 is not required with all Bluetooth serial
adaptors! The
Parani10,
Air Cable, and Free2Move devices do not for example. These devices
can disable
handshaking. However, remember some of these require the
additional null modem adaptor and/or
male to male gender changer which is
not as clean.
Consider hardwiring (or jumping)
pin 7 to pin 8 of the Adaptor Panel's 9 pin female serial port. This
satisfies the hardware handshaking needed by the
Socket Serial adaptor and will not cause a problem if another
brand is used.
See the back of the adaptor panel centered on the serial connector below.
Jumper wire for handshaking
expanded view
Tie 7 and 8 together - Pin
9 is 5 volts power
Not required with ALL Bluetooth serial devices
Hot Glue to
protect your work
By placing hot glue over the pins you can protect them from
pulling loose or being shorted.
Protect wires!
Final Touches
Place another dab on the middle of the
5 volt affixing it to the adaptor panel.
Now the Bluetooth serial
adaptor is powered by the
Paramount
ME! Using the Socket brand or Air Cable Bluetooth serial adaptor all that is required is the
serial adaptor plugged directly into the Paramount ME's
female 9 pin serial port. No additional adaptors (gender
changer/null modem) or
external wiring for power is required. Very clean and slick because the Bluetooth serial
adaptor is powered by the Paramount
ME!
Installation
complete, ready for wireless control
Socket adaptor shown here
Clean and Convenient installation -
Socket adaptor shown
WARNING! Use of a serial cable with all 9 wires connected AFTER
performing the modification is not recommended. The serial cables
supplied with the Paramount ME have all 9 wires connected do not use
the supplied cable.
When
the adaptor panel modification
has been performed you should NO LONGER use a straight through 9
pin male to 9 pin female serial cable with the
Paramount ME. This includes the default 25 foot length serial cable supplied with the
Paramount ME uses all 9 lines.
In doing so you would be supplying +5 volts directly to pin
9 - Ring
Indicator on the
PC or Laptop computers' serial port. I do not know what that could or would do!
Just eliminate the use of pin 9 in the serial cable and there is no
problem. All that is needed for serial communications with the
Paramount ME
are pins 2, 3, and 5 ground, wired straight to each other.
Using the same + 5 volt pin for power
described above wire from there to the center post of the Aux 1 or
Aux 2 power connector. Aux 2 is shown here. To the left in the image
below is Aux 1. Either will work!
Using Aux power connector 2 for power
Alternative source for power
NOTE: If you
choose this method DON'T forget that you now have an active power
connector! Do not plug anything in this Aux connector that requires
more than +5 volts center pin and minimal power requirements, i.e.
the low power consumption Bluetooth serial adaptors. Probably best
to place a label on the connector used so you don't forget or
use Pin 9 for power instead!
Option Two - Finished
but not as neat!
+5 Volts from Aux
Power Connector 2
The small clicking
sound you here connecting to the Paramount ME is normal.
You will hear the click once when establishing the connection and
once when disconnecting. You may also notice
a single packet
error when first establishing the connection. This too is
normal.
Note that only
qualified persons should perform this modification. Improper
soldering could cause damage to the board voiding the warranty on
the Adaptor Panel!
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