®
®
Preliminary
Data Sheet
11/19/03
INNOVATION and EXCELLENCE
DTL-IFB-485
Interface Board
for Serial-Input Electronic Loads
General Description
Features
The DTL-IFB-485 uses a microcontroller with a 4-wire RS-485
interface to facilitate programming the DTL2A/2A-LC/3A/4A
serial-input (isolated) loads using simple ASCII command
strings through the serial port of a PC. THE DTL-IFB-485
plugs in to a DTL2/3/4 load and provides an address for the
load (range 0 to 255) set by two rotary hexadecimal switches
on the DTL-IFB-485. The standard RS-485 specification
provides for up to 32 devices connected up to 4,000 feet of
cable length. The DTL-IFB-485 operates at either 9600 or
1200 baud. The DTL-IFB-485 uses special high-input
impedance receivers, allowing 256 devices to be driven by a
single RS-485 port. A driver card can be installed in a PC, just
as a COM port (RS-232) would be and is programmed
identically to a normal RS-232 port. RS-232/RS485 interface
adapters can also be used. The DTL-IFB-485 provides a
convenient way to manage up to 256 electronic loads
dispersed over a large area, such as might be typically
encountered in a burn-in system or battery load/life test
system. The DTL-IFB-485 provides a 12-bit A/D option that
can read back the load voltage.
• Simplifies interfacing to DATEL's DTL2A, DTL2A-LC,
DTL3A & DTL4A, 100W serial-input electronic loads
• Connects to PC's serial port using RS485 adapter card
• Simplifies burn-in rack and load bank connections•
Microcontroller with a four-wire RS-485 interface
• Update loads individually or simultaneously
• Red/Green LEDs for fault/unit enabled
• WinBurn™ ActiveX Controls
Ordering Information
MODEL
DESCRIPTION
DTL-IFB-485
RS-485 serial Interface Board with A/D for
serial-input electronic loads. WinBurn™
Active X Control available upon request
(DTLx485)
DTL-DB10-6
6' Cable from RS-485 port to DTL-IFB-485
+Vcc
I
s
o
P3
O
p
t
l
+Vcc
12-Bit
A/D
Set
Range
a
t
o
o
r
s
A1/B1A
P1
RS-485
Receive
+ Load
- Load
DTLXA
Four
Digital
Micro-controller
Array/EEPROM
I/O lines
A2/B2
RS-485
Transmit
Series
Electronic
Load
Fault
Green LED
Board
OK
Board in
Fault
Red LED
Figure 1. Simplified Schematic
DATEL, Inc. Mansfield, MA 02048 (USA) * Tel: (508)339-3000, (800)233-2765 Fax: (508)339-6356 * Email: sales@datel.com * Internet: www.datel.com