| Author |
Message |
bakhtn
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
Posts: 6
|
 15 Jun 2007 0:13 trying to open cash drawer via PC |
|
|
|
Hi. Im not an electronics so please bear with me. Im a software engineer and need help on the electronics side of things.
I have a cash drawer that has a RJ-11 cable coming out from it, this cable can be attached to a receipt printer RJ-11 port. when the printer prints a receipt, it sends a signal to the cash drawer via the cable which then ejects the cash drawer, which is great.
but I am trying to build a software that can do the same thing but instead of the cash drawer being attached to a printer, it will be attached to the PC via a NIC or modem / ethernet port that accepts RJ-11 connector.
Now I need to open the cash drawer via my PC. here is some more info about the cash draw:
the RJ-11 has 5 small wires, WHITE, BLACK, RED, GREEN, BLUE. these are then connected to a chip called "10A125-25VAC", then there are some wires that go into a small motor which turns to release a hatch to open the drawer.
on the back it says 12V, i think that we need a 12V signal.
Please can anyone tell me how I can eject my cash draw via my PC, or another piece of equipment that I can control via my computer to open the cash drawer.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
House_Cat
Joined: 21 Feb 2002
Posts: 1262
Helped: 259
|
| 15 Jun 2007 0:52 Re: trying to open cash drawer via PC |
|
|
|
It certainly should be possible to design a small interface circuit to do what you want to do. Unfortunately, it will require more information about the existing circuit than you have supplied.
It is likely that what you are calling a "chip" is actually a fuse or solid state circuit protector. The 10A125 marking is the same used by BUSSMAN on a 10amp fuse.
To get anywhere, you're going to have to identify exactly where each wire goes, and identify the motor that is activated by the printer. The starting point for your project should be a schematic of what you have in the cash drawer.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bakhtn
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
Posts: 6
|
| 15 Jun 2007 13:10 Re: trying to open cash drawer via PC |
|
|
|
hope this image may help. Im sorry if its unclear. this is the electronics inside the cash draw:
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
House_Cat
Joined: 21 Feb 2002
Posts: 1262
Helped: 259
|
| 16 Jun 2007 0:15 Re: trying to open cash drawer via PC |
|
|
|
What you have posted sheds a tiny bit more light on the problem. I believe what you are calling a chip is really a drawer position sensor that tells the printer when the drawer is open or closed. It is most likely just a microswitch.
The "motor" is probably just a solenoid - it could be either rotary or linear.
There's still not enough data to design a circuit. You need the current rating of the solenoid, and the pinout of the connector. And you need to confirm that the position sensor is a microswitch.
Do you have software that is going to signal the drawer to open? To what computer port does the software output - serial, parallel, USB...? You're going to need to know how the software communicates with the port.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bakhtn
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
Posts: 6
|
| 16 Jun 2007 1:47 Re: trying to open cash drawer via PC |
|
|
|
Yes your right it is a selenoid, thats what the draw is called a selenoid cash drawer on the back. I read up about this technology called POE Power over ethernet, I know that people have used ethernet interfacing for industry automation, however it is quite uncommon.
I know an alternative is to use somekind of serial or parallel to RJ-11 converter, so i can interface via the serial or printer port.
also another correction Id like to make, on the back 12V was crossed out by pen, and written 24V, I dont know whether that makes a difference.
Is it possible just to hook it up to my modem port, and send some commands to the modem some way such that its opens the draw via my modem, Ive heard of this thing called AT commands.
But also Im hoping to put this system on windows 98, because i have already made the printer driver software for it and it works ok. Just need to know wether I can use TCP/IP to some how send some data or signal to power up the cash drawer.
To be honest with you I think your correct all the way, itt makes sense. But unfortunately the selenoid is covered in this grey fabric like material, so I can say the what type it is, Im sure it works fine, but I just need to know how to power it up.
Just to make sure that it works can I use a a cable tester and send the right amount of volts, which tests the rj-11 cable and hopefully generate some power to the cash drawer for it to operate.
one website suggested to me to send DOS commands to the modem or what ever COM port it hooked up on.
I know its not impossible because I know that can be done in Visual Basic, .NET.
unfortunately im using Java that has very few, or Im unaware of capabilties for communication and interfacing.
Im kinda stuck, where should i begin, I just want a simplen solution, I researched and found out that you can send character codes to the drawer to invoke opening.
I'll try to get in touch with the manufacturer, hopefully they might be able tell me what I need.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Encrypted
Joined: 28 May 2001
Posts: 146
Helped: 6
|
| 16 Jun 2007 3:48 Re: trying to open cash drawer via PC |
|
|
|
You need to forget about ethernet, tcp/ip, modems, etc.
The only simularity is that your cash drawer uses the same connector!
You are not going to get enough power from any computer port to drive the solenoid directly so an interface board will be needed.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
House_Cat
Joined: 21 Feb 2002
Posts: 1262
Helped: 259
|
| 16 Jun 2007 5:31 Re: trying to open cash drawer via PC |
|
|
|
I'm afraid 'Encrypted' is correct. The modem port on a PC is an RS232 serial port. It won't supply the 24volts that your solenoid needs, and it cannot supply enough current even if the voltage were sufficient.
You're going to need a hardware interface with a power supply between the PC and the cash drawer. The cash drawer was intended to get its operating voltage from a companion printer. You need a hardware converter to do the job that the printer power supply and interface was designed to do.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bakhtn
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
Posts: 6
|
| 16 Jun 2007 20:44 Re: trying to open cash drawer via PC |
|
|
|
hey guys thank for the help. And I think Ive got some good news, the manufacturer of the cash draw has a USB INTERFACE MODULE for the cash draw to eject apparently. take a look at it :
http://www.cash-drawers.com/new.html
(at the bottom of the webpage).
tell me what you guys think. Ive sent then an email regarding the the compatibility with my cash draw, it says all cash drawers which they make, so i think it should be fine. Wish me luck.
I'll let you know about the progress of my project guys.
take care
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Manthatufear
Joined: 30 Jul 2003
Posts: 12
Location: Next Door
|
| 23 Apr 2008 19:44 Re: trying to open cash drawer via PC |
|
|
|
| Care to share your solution? Thanks
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
