Watlow F4 Communication Cable

[tian66]

Hello,

I have a Watlow F4 controller for a Chamer.

Does anyone know what kind of cable I should use to control it by using labview.

There is a RS232 male on the controller. I prefer the RS232 to USB.

NI only has RS232 male to USB.

Thanks!

[Alex-D]

It should work with the serial to USB. The device will still show up as a COM port on the computer and then you can use the plug and play drivers. You can get those by opening LabVIEW and click Help and then select the Find Instrument Driver. You'll need to log in and then search for the Watlow device and then install the driver. To find where the vi's are in the Pallets just right click and select search and type in Watlow. You should be able to find them. You should then be able to use your device with LabVIEW. Have a great day. 

[tian66]

Thanks!

What I am lookin for is a serial to usb cable. I found one in NI website http://sine.ni.com/nips/cds/view/p/lang/en/nid/12844

It will cost $170. Is there any difference between NI cable and others in the market which is on $20.

Does this one has better compitability with LabVIEW?

[RTSLVU · Accepted solution]

Any USB to Serial adaptor should work.

I have had the best luck with the "Cables To Go" adaptor that uses the Prolific chipset in LabVIEW.

But be warned there are adaptors with counterfit Prolific chipsets out there, so I do not recomend buying the cheapest one you can find.

Our Watlow F4 requires a null modem cable and a 25-pin RS232 connector. If you look around you can find 9 to 25 pin null modem cables.

[tian66]

Ok. Thanks!