S+ SAS RS232 interface schematics

[poppo]

So people don't have to wade through that other thread (that has some wiring errors early on), I have put the schematics here

Disclaimer: I made my best effort to ensure that the factory board schematic is correct. Nothing will blow up your machine, but I can't guarantee it will work as I have not actually built it. I used a factory board to trace everything out. It is up to the user to have some knowledge of electronics to assemble either of these. For example, knowing which way to put in an LED, and the correct polarity of the regulator capacitors. If anyone wants to add to or modify either of these, all I ask is that you let me know what you plan to do first.

That said, the first schematic is of the factory RS232 SAS board. Since J82 and J2 don't have pin #1 labeled, I have drawn them as they are on the board with J82 at the top, and labeled them accordingly. I have included the pin to pin wiring for those that may be lucky enough to find one of these boards and just needs to hook it up. There were several errors in the early drawings in the original thead, so these have all of the corrections. I have shown J4 and J9 that are on the motherboard as you would be looking at it from the door of the machine. I drew lines on the pins that are used. Note: If you use J9, be sure to use pin 2. If you use pin 3 by accident, you will fry your board as it has 12vac on it.

The first schematic is mainly for someone ambitious enough to want to build one like the factory.  

For those who want a quick and easy interface, the second one will do the job. I have built two of them and they work just fine. As I noted in the other thread, there are pre-made MAX232 boards on e-bay for about $4.00 that should work. But I don't yet have one to verify it (but have a few on order). This option requires that you supply a REGULATED +5V to the MAX232 (and motherboard). You can often find these type of wall warts on stuff like USB hubs etc. But you must make sure it is 5V regulated or else you need to build your own 5v regulator. The important thing with this option is that the +5V supply ground must be tied to the MAX232 (of course), but it also goes to pin 2 of J4, and it should also go to chassis ground. This is because the MPU normally gets it's ground for this part of the circuitry from the factory SAS board which gets it from pin 1 of J9. And if you don't supply a common ground, it may not work right, or be intermittent.

You may also notice that the MAX232 on my simplified interface is wired slightly different than the factory board (a few of the capacitors). I don't know why there is a difference, all I know is that they both work.

<edit> 05/11/11 Fixed more minor errors on the IGT board.

[Foster]

I will add mine that works.

[poppo]

I will add mine that works.

Go for it.  I was mostly concerned with someone making modifications to these that could result in   

[stayouttadabunker]

Hey! What's all those triangles and squiggly lines for?    

Just kidding...Great great stuff guys!!!
The wiring diagrams and schematics of the year! 

[poppo]

Just kidding...Great great stuff guys!!!

I have to give a special thanks to Bunker for smoke checking his factory board so that I could get a closer look at it.   

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[poppo]

I posted a similar picture in the other thread. What makes the simplified MAX232 option so easy to build and useful is that you can just solder the capacitors right to the MAX232 chip and then stick the whole assembly right inside of a DB9 connector. There will then be 4 wires coming out. TX, RX, GND and +5v. And if you terminate the wires with header pin connectors, you can just slide them right on the pins you need to. Note: The ground and +5 volt need to go to your regulated power supply (just tap into the wires). Then just slide the 4 connectors onto the correct J4 pins and you are done. I have mine routed out through the slot machine power cable hole and the DB9 is easily accessible at the rear of the machine.

[poppo]

Ok, for those looking for the really simple S+ solution, I had posted this link to an item on e-bay before.
http://cgi.ebay.com/MAX232-RS232-TTL-Converter-Adapter-Module-Board-New-/280635493763
It's a pre-built MAX232 board. $3.99 shipped. I bought 2 of them. Took a little while to get them since they are coming from China or Hong Kong, but they work just fine.

Connection is exactly like my simplified schematic above. Only 4 wires are needed. Gnd, +5V, TX, RX. See my notes on the external power supply above.

The pin labled TXD goes to J4 pin 9 and the one labled RDX goes to J4 pin 5

The pin labeling on the board is offset a bit, but corresponds to the 6 pins. The top 4 pins as shown in the picture, are the ones used.

[stayouttadabunker]

I gotta give a round of applause to our U.S. Postal Service.
How they delivered my mail today is just bloody amazing!
Every local school and airport around here is closed due to the heavy snowfall.  >>>

[stayouttadabunker]

More pictures of this amazingly small serial cable board.
The last one was a bit too dark however.
Please click on photos to enlarge if needed!
I'm guessing we're NOT using the bottom two (RTS & CTS) Pins,  Poppo?
I've marked them with little green ex's...>>>

ADD>>> I had to change the X's to red for Capt Happy....

[poppo]

I'm guessing we're NOT using the bottom two (RTS & CTS) Pins,  Poppo?
I've marked them with little green ex's...>>>

Correct. Don't need those pins for this.

[CaptainHappy]

I'm guessing we're NOT using the bottom two (RTS & CTS) Pins,  Poppo?
I've marked them with little green ex's...>>>

Correct. Don't need those pins for this.

Bunker,

Why did you use Green X's and not Red X's???  

Thanks to everyone   for their contribution on this project!!! K+ Storm in here!

CaptainHappy

[stayouttadabunker]

Capt.
Please review Reply #8 and tell me if it passes inspection... 

[CaptainHappy]

Capt.
Please review Reply #8 and tell me if it passes inspection... 

When I blow it up it looks like Christmas X's!!! Way cool, it is fun playing with you!

CH

[stayouttadabunker]

Poppo,
I'm the midst of making one of these but I'm stumped on the regulated +5vdc.
I don't have anything that's 5volts.
Is there a +5v source on the S+ that I can tap into?

I also have a couple of old S+ MPU boards.
Are there any components that I can use from them - to make a power source?

[poppo]

Poppo,
I'm the midst of making one of these but I'm stumped on the regulated +5vdc.
I don't have anything that's 5volts.
Is there a +5v source on the S+ that I can tap into?

I also have a couple of old S+ MPU boards.
Are there any components that I can use from them - to make a power source?

As I noted I uses a wall wart that was already a regulated 5V. While there are places on the MPU to get +5V, it would require soldering a wire on something and I would not recommend that. The other option is to build a 5v regulator like Foster shows on his schematic to use with your other wall wart or J9 pin 2. While I recommend the filter caps he shows, you can probably get by without them. I sent you a spare 5v regulator with your other board which should be there soon.

[stayouttadabunker]

Oh thanks!
I'll wait on that then.
I don't feel like burning out tiny boards that
take forever to get here from China! 

The strange thing though is:
I built a serial cable like yours utilizing a MAX232 chip and I only had a 12Vdc wallwarts.
I had total and full communications w/my S+ using the Sim program.
But I didn't have any communications with the Test App though.
Strange...

[poppo]

If you were using a 12V wall wart, (and it was actually putting out 12V), you are probably lucky you didn't cook the MAX232 chip. It's really only rated for +6V max.

[stayouttadabunker]

Poppo,
I'm getting swamped with harness requests for the SAS Interface board.
I'm thinking of having guys just send me their boards and
I'll install a female serial port housing onto the boards at the J2 location?
Do you think this is a good idea?
That way the members can just plug in a store-bought serial cable?
What do you think?

Also, guys that don't have serial ports on their computers could use something like this below?>>>


http://cgi.ebay.com/Single-DB9-Serial-Port-w-Header-Connector-PCI-Bracket-/110553776159?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19bd84c01f

[poppo]

I'm thinking of having guys just send me their boards and
I'll install a female serial port housing onto the boards at the J2 location?
Do you think this is a good idea?
That way the members can just plug in a store-bought serial cable?
What do you think?

The only issue I see is needing to route the cable into the machine. You would need a hole big enough to fit the DB9 through. That is why I have mine outside of the machine, so only a rew wires need to fit in the power cable hole.

[stayouttadabunker]

Hmm...I have a big round drill bit that makes holes for a doorknob....

[Foster]

That bracket with the RS232  DB9 is for computer motherboards that have a second serial port on them that terminates in a header that looks like the DCS header on the S+ or S2000,
it is a 2x5 0.100 header with 1 pin missing so you do not plug iinto the motherboard backwards.

[AndyP]

I'm thinking of having guys just send me their boards and
I'll install a female serial port housing onto the boards at the J2 location?
Do you think this is a good idea?
That way the members can just plug in a store-bought serial cable?
What do you think?

The only issue I see is needing to route the cable into the machine. You would need a hole big enough to fit the DB9 through. That is why I have mine outside of the machine, so only a rew wires need to fit in the power cable hole.

In the casinos there is a hole drilled in the bench that you can fit your fist through (almost) for cables. Most machines I have seen have a plate that you can unbolt on the floor of the machine cabinet for cables. OF course, every machine has the hole in a different location, and we know how casino managers like to move machines around, so the benches end up looking like swiss cheese in the end.

[SLOTMAN]

I am a little confused after reading through and through this thread.  I understand that the S+ uses TTL.  Is that the same for S2000?  I use RS232 to TTL converters so I have one of those.  It takes 5VDC from the serial port.  Can that be hooked directly to the motherboard?  If so, which pins?

[stayouttadabunker]

Think you're confused?
We did a 40 page thread on this last year!!!  
Anyways, I'm not quite sure if you mean for an S+ or an S2000 machine
but since this topic is in an S+ forum...>>>

Pins 1 & 2 on the S+'s J9 motherboard header will power up the interface board.
It will be the two right-most pins when looking at an S+ motherboard horizontally.

At the other end:
Pin 1 goes to Pin 4 on the interface boards' J82A header.
Pin 2 goes to Pin 2 on the interface boards' J82A header.

[SLOTMAN]

Ohhhhh, so there is an interface board??? Actually I was going to try on the S+ and then the 2000. I was under the impression I could tap right in to the m board. What is the purpose of the interface? It isn't to convert TTL to 232 is it?