Trevor
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I thought I'd spin a thread off to deal with the issue of third-party software interfacing with LaserBee hardware. Members here have used generic terminal applications for Mac and Windows, generic datalogging programs, and programs made specifically for datalogging from laser power meters (such as Peregrine).
Recently there's been a misconception going around, perpetuated by Jerry, that a LaserBee might be damaged by interfacing with it via a program other than the utility distributed with the meters. I thought it appropriate to try to clear up this misconception and set everyone's mind at ease.
LaserBee Characteristics
All LaserBees that involve a PIC microcontroller operate at 5V. 5V is logical high and 0V is logical low.
The following LaserBee products include a DB9 connector intended to be used as RS232:
These LaserBee models must use RS232 to USB adapters in order to connect to most modern computers.
The following LaserBee models include an RS232 to USB adapter built-in:
They already have a little logic board inside that enables you to plug the LPM into USB natively.
Why does Jerry claim that "damage" could be done by using other interface software? Well, there's no possible way that transmitting data to the computer could in any way harm the LaserBee. After all, the LaserBee transmits data to the bundled software. The other potential area for "damage" is in receiving data. If you plug an RS232 connector straight into the LaserBees that allow it, you are potentially exposing it to voltages greater than its operating voltage (5V). However, this cannot possibly harm the LaserBee. I'll outline why below.
Let's examine the way data moves in and out of LaserBees.
A couple years ago, the most ubiquitous type of LaserBee was the 1W LaserBee I. The "OEM" version of the LaserBee I has a DB9 connector soldered to the pads on the left side of the board. The male connector looks like this:
There is a (mirrored) female version of this connector on some LaserBee boards. The LaserBee, of course, will be transmitting data on the pin labeled RXD - because that's what the computer reads from.
As you can see, on the top, the RXD and Ground is soldered to the board. There is one pin soldered on the bottom.
However, the TXD pin, which would be used to send data to the LaserBee, is electrically isolated.
Check it out:
So, the solder pads for all the pins except ground and the data transmission pin are electrically isolated. There is one pin on the bottom soldered on for support, but it is not electrically connected. Furthermore, the unused solder pads are insulated from the contacts on the connector - there will be no accidental contact. So all the pins but the transmission pin are, in fact, quite electrically isolated.
The LaserBee I, I-X, and II all share the same basic board - so this will be the case on all of those.
Now, moving on to the USB LaserBee - the most ubiquitous one now:
You see that only the ground and the transmission coming from the LaserBee are even connected. It is impossible for any transmission from the computer to get anywhere near the board with the PIC on it. It is absolutely impossible for this board to be damaged by interface software.
Now, last but not least, the "deluxe" LaserBees that come in the project boxes:
Once again, you can see that there is no possibility for any stray voltage to reach the PIC board.
So what does it mean?
Because of the electrical isolation of the pins other than those necessary to transmit data to the computer, there is no possible way for the LaserBee to do anything but spew data back to the computer.
Moreover, Jerry accounted for the possibility of someone trying to transmit data to the LaserBee at a voltage that could damage it. Thus, he ensured that those pins were isolated from the rest of the circuit to prevent any damage from occurring.
I think that he is knowingly lying to prevent LaserBee users from using anything but the datalogging software he distributes. To me, it seems that is the only logical conclusion.
Since it has been proven that damage is not physically possible, I think we can conclude that it is perfectly fine to use third-party programs to stream data from the LaserBee - be it StampPlot Pro, the Arduino monitor, CoolTerm, or Peregrine.
I'm sad that I had to post this thread to dispel such a bald-faced lie, but such is the state of "competition" in the hobbyist LPM world.
But at least people can rest easy, knowing that third-party software cannot damage a LaserBee.
Trevor
Recently there's been a misconception going around, perpetuated by Jerry, that a LaserBee might be damaged by interfacing with it via a program other than the utility distributed with the meters. I thought it appropriate to try to clear up this misconception and set everyone's mind at ease.
LaserBee Characteristics
All LaserBees that involve a PIC microcontroller operate at 5V. 5V is logical high and 0V is logical low.
The following LaserBee products include a DB9 connector intended to be used as RS232:
- LaserBee I
- LaserBee I-X
- LaserBee II
- DL-Module
These LaserBee models must use RS232 to USB adapters in order to connect to most modern computers.
The following LaserBee models include an RS232 to USB adapter built-in:
- LaserBee 2.5W USB
- LaserBee 3.7W USB
They already have a little logic board inside that enables you to plug the LPM into USB natively.
Why does Jerry claim that "damage" could be done by using other interface software? Well, there's no possible way that transmitting data to the computer could in any way harm the LaserBee. After all, the LaserBee transmits data to the bundled software. The other potential area for "damage" is in receiving data. If you plug an RS232 connector straight into the LaserBees that allow it, you are potentially exposing it to voltages greater than its operating voltage (5V). However, this cannot possibly harm the LaserBee. I'll outline why below.
Let's examine the way data moves in and out of LaserBees.
A couple years ago, the most ubiquitous type of LaserBee was the 1W LaserBee I. The "OEM" version of the LaserBee I has a DB9 connector soldered to the pads on the left side of the board. The male connector looks like this:
There is a (mirrored) female version of this connector on some LaserBee boards. The LaserBee, of course, will be transmitting data on the pin labeled RXD - because that's what the computer reads from.
As you can see, on the top, the RXD and Ground is soldered to the board. There is one pin soldered on the bottom.
However, the TXD pin, which would be used to send data to the LaserBee, is electrically isolated.
Check it out:
So, the solder pads for all the pins except ground and the data transmission pin are electrically isolated. There is one pin on the bottom soldered on for support, but it is not electrically connected. Furthermore, the unused solder pads are insulated from the contacts on the connector - there will be no accidental contact. So all the pins but the transmission pin are, in fact, quite electrically isolated.
The LaserBee I, I-X, and II all share the same basic board - so this will be the case on all of those.
Now, moving on to the USB LaserBee - the most ubiquitous one now:
You see that only the ground and the transmission coming from the LaserBee are even connected. It is impossible for any transmission from the computer to get anywhere near the board with the PIC on it. It is absolutely impossible for this board to be damaged by interface software.
Now, last but not least, the "deluxe" LaserBees that come in the project boxes:
Once again, you can see that there is no possibility for any stray voltage to reach the PIC board.
So what does it mean?
Because of the electrical isolation of the pins other than those necessary to transmit data to the computer, there is no possible way for the LaserBee to do anything but spew data back to the computer.
Moreover, Jerry accounted for the possibility of someone trying to transmit data to the LaserBee at a voltage that could damage it. Thus, he ensured that those pins were isolated from the rest of the circuit to prevent any damage from occurring.
I think that he is knowingly lying to prevent LaserBee users from using anything but the datalogging software he distributes. To me, it seems that is the only logical conclusion.
Since it has been proven that damage is not physically possible, I think we can conclude that it is perfectly fine to use third-party programs to stream data from the LaserBee - be it StampPlot Pro, the Arduino monitor, CoolTerm, or Peregrine.
I'm sad that I had to post this thread to dispel such a bald-faced lie, but such is the state of "competition" in the hobbyist LPM world.
But at least people can rest easy, knowing that third-party software cannot damage a LaserBee.
Trevor
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