[time-nuts] Trimble Thunderbolt Rs-232 Levels

[Ken Winterling]

Darrell,

I just bought that exact unit a couple weeks ago, probably from the
same seller.  It works directly with an RS-232 port.  I'm using mine
with a RS-232/USB adapter to my laptop.  The power supply board only
supplies the +/- 12VDC and + 5VDC.

Here are the Mouser part numbers for the power plug and female pins:

Mouser #: 538-50-57-9406
Mfr. #:  50-57-9406
Desc.: SL Connectors HSG 6P SINGLE ROW POSITIVE LATCH

Mouser #: 538-16-02-0104
Mfr. #: 16-02-0104
Desc.: SL Connectors 22-24 TERMINAL BULK

Ken, WA2LBI

On Feb 12, 2008 11:19 PM, Darrell Robinson <darrell at shaw.ca> wrote:
> I've just purchased a Trimble Thunderbolt from e-Bay, and from the various documentation that I've found online I'm still not 100% sure if I can use the RS-232 interface directly with my computer. I'm concerned that I might cook the Trimble interface with the ±12 volts from the computer RS-232. I'm wondering if the Trimble is TTL level only and therefore needs a MAX232 or similar, or does it use the older standard ±12 volt levels?
>
> The box I have does not have the power supply board enclosed. It's the timing board only with 2 BNC, an 'F' connector and a 6-pin power plug. Does the power supply board that comes with the more complete version have a level converter built in?
>
> Darrell
>