Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 19:10:26 -0500
Reply-To: Darrell Boehler <midwesty@TAOS.MIDWEST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Darrell Boehler <midwesty@TAOS.MIDWEST.NET>
Subject: Re: digifant
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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Hi Volks,
I started a discussion 2 weeks ago concerning the difficulty of
isolating and pin pointing problems with our digifant. . I suggested at
the time it was probable that a cable could be attached to the digifant
providing input / output information as needed to diagnose digifant
problems. I have since developed such a digifant tool and it works well.
The digifant tool consists of a short cable attached to the digifant
connector and a perfboard with LEDs and connectors with a cable that
connects to the digifant short cable. It provides the user with 6 LEDs that
display much of the information processed by the digifant. The tool also
provides the user with the ability to monitor any of the 25 digifant
connector pins desired with a meter or other test equipment. This is
accomplished my providing the user with 25 pins that are electrically the
same and numbered the same as the digifant connector.
I installed the digifant tool on to my spare digifant. When not needed
the perfboard section can be removed from the digifant. Connection between
the digifant and the digifant tool is made using a 25 wire flat pc cable
with 25 pin pc serial port connectors. I have not experienced any problems
with electrical noise. There seems to be very little electrical noise in
the van cabin.
I wish to thank the many on the list for all the information and
discussions, there are too many to mention. I tried to reply to most
and I'm sure I missed acknowledging some of your notes. There for a while
all I had time to do was answer mail, again many thanks.
My goal while making this tool was to keep it simple and to hold down
the cost and yet provide the user with the ability to gather needed
information, and of course do no harm. I think it meets these objectives.
Making this tool does require soldering skill. However the soldering
done on the digifant circuit board is at the 25 pin connector, no heating
is done of other components. A parts list and how to make the digifant tool
is posted at http://taos.midwest.net/vw Enjoy. If you have any
comments or suggestions please drop me a note.
Many thanks to my son Tom for spending much of today setting this up
on his web site for all to enjoy and use.
Darrell Boehler
Makanda Illinois
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