- Flow controller P/N C50L-AL-DD-2-PV2-V0 C50L-Al = Flow controller aluminum to 50 slpm DD = Digital display, front mounted 2 = 1/4-inch stainless steel compression fittings PV2 = 24VDC V0 = RS-232 (no analog out) Power supply P/N 50-8TD, 24VDC with serial port connector Proprietary serial-to-serial cable P/N 50-CRN __________________ Hello, We have a Smartrak 50 p/n C50L-AL-DD-2-PV2-V0, Helium, 50 sccm, s/n 202588 purchased in 2016 and set up by someone now absent. Apparently he cut a serial cable and then reconfigured the conductors to connect this unit with a computer. Questions: Please can you answer the following questions: 1) why did he have to do this? 2) Do you folks offer a cable that does not need to be reconfigured? 3) Will the usb-to-serial that you folks offer work without modification? 4) Can you tell us the meaning of the various letters and numbers in the part number for our unit? So that we know what we ordered for our own future reference. We ask because we would like to change the flow rate. Thanks! Hello, We have a Smartrak 50 p/n C50L-AL-DD-2-PV2-V0, Helium, 50 sccm, s/n 202588 purchased in 2016 and set up by someone now absent. Apparently he cut a serial cable and then reconfigured the conductors to connect this unit with a computer. Questions: Please can you answer the following questions: 1) why did he have to do this? 2) Do you folks offer a cable that does not need to be reconfigured? 3) Will the usb-to-serial that you folks offer work without modification? 4) Can you tell us the meaning of the various letters and numbers in the part number for our unit? So that we know what we ordered for our own future reference. We ask because we would like to change the flow rate. Thanks! Cheyne has joined the chat. Cheyne (11:31:24) : Hi Jim. Cheyne (11:32:54) : I'm not sure why they would have cut a cable and reconfigured it unless it was a cable that we hadn't provided and they had to cut it to get it to work. Cheyne (11:33:05) : Yes, we do offer a cable with the correct pinout. Cheyne (11:34:14) : We offer a solution that doesn;t require any cutting or changing of cables; you want a 50-CRN cable and a 50-SerialUSB cable. Here's a link to our web store: https://www.sierrainstruments.com/shop/view_cart.php?doAccess=8 Jim Palandri (11:35:34) : Exactly. He grabbed a generic serial from surplus and went to town on it with the help of our e-shop. If we get from you, do we need both cables you mention? Cheyne (11:36:10) : You would only need the serial to USB cable if your computer doesn't have a serial connection. the 50-CRN cable is serial on both ends. Cheyne (11:36:44) : Here's a link for a helpful wiring guide: https://www.sierrainstruments.com/new/cpanel/userfiles/file/datasheets/technical/smarttrak-50-purchasing-guide.pdf?x=6034 Cheyne (11:36:58) : I assume you're applying power to one d-connector and then communication on the other? Jim Palandri (11:37:29) : Given serial has fallen from favor, we can assume most folks now get the USB version? Cheyne (11:37:39) : Yes. Cheyne (11:37:56) : I've recommended that we change all of our cables to always have a USB connection but change is slow... Jim Palandri (11:38:42) : There is a power supply on one side, and the other has a sheet metal cover. Cheyne (11:39:07) : Yeah. If you remove that little metal cover and use the two cables I recommended you'll be set. Cheyne (11:39:19) : Top of page 6 of that wiring guide shows what it would look like. Cheyne (11:40:46) : It's a bit of a pain but the 50 Series wasn't designed for "ease of use". It was designed to be a cheaper alternative to our 100 Series for OEM applications (where it gets put in a larger machine and never touched again except through a PC or analog signal). But a lot of universities buy them since they're cheaper than the 100 Series, which is much easier to use. Jim Palandri (11:42:20) : Thanks, I will order a usb cable online. Please can you decipher our part number for us? A reply later to my email address is fine for that. Cheyne (11:43:15) : What sort of deciphering do you need? Cheyne (11:43:43) : Oh sorry. I hadn;t seen your last bullet point. Cheyne (11:44:07) : The last two pages of the technical data sheet explain what each model code means: https://www.sierrainstruments.com/userfiles/file/datasheets/technical/50-low-datasheet.pdf?x=1093 Cheyne (11:45:00) : If you buy a USB adapter from another website just make sure it is USB on one end and 9-pin MALE serial on the other. The 50-CRN cable will have a female serial connection that the USB adapter plugs in to. Cheyne (11:45:49) : And you will need the 50-CRN cable. if you plug a serial to USB adapter directly in to the 50 Series it won't work. the CRN cable converts the pins from the 50 Series to the USB adapter. Jim Palandri (11:47:13) : OK. One last thing, when connected to the computer on one port, we should leave the power supply connected to the other? Cheyne (11:47:30) : Correct. Jim Palandri (11:48:33) : Thank you Cheyne. You have been most helpful. I now end the session...