Post #68,153
12/11/02 1:47:04 PM
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Get into the embedded world
There are a bunch of companies making embedded computing hardware running Linux on x86 PC's from 386EX's to Athlon & Pentiums, plus other CPUs, in a wide variety of sizes and shapes.
To get your started:
-- Go to news stand and browse through Circuit Cellar Ink
-- Find a copy or check websites for trade magazines such as Electronics Design, Electronics Design News, Embedded Systems Programming, etc and look at the ads
-- try searches for phrases such as "embedded linux", "linux PC-104", and such
-- an industrial computer or PanelPC might work too (e.g. CyberResearch, Advantech)
-- Someone had a link to small form factor PC's in Entertainment (satellite radio/MP3 player discussion)
Tony
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Post #68,343
12/12/02 8:06:21 AM
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Thank you Tony
you are one of the great ones for helping me out in this. The client wants me to stop my research for now until he can fly back to Missouri and talk to me face to face. I can show him where I will now search for embedded solutions. So far, I just get laughed at when I mention double throw relays, and I cannot find any off the shelf boxes that have them.
[link|http://www.google.com/search?as_q=double+throw+relay+linux+driver&num=10&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=double+throw+relay&as_oq=linux&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=images|A Google Search] come up with this for Linux drivers for accessing Double Throw Relays. All the results are in German, so I have no idea what they say. Or if a Linux driver already exists, or if this is something else. You know how Google can return bogus results on stuff that doesn't even come close to the search terms sometimes. I hate Google, but I couldn't get any results on any other search engine in this case.
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Post #73,907
1/10/03 12:41:01 PM
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I found some more
It seems someone else gave me these links:
[link|http://www.octagonsystems.com/Software/swguide.html|
http://www.octagonsystems.com/Software/swguide.html]
Complete kit, will need to create the relay board.
[link|http://www.octagonsystems.com/Software/lx2050.html|
http://www.octagonsystems.com/Software/lx2050.html]
do not be supprised if the development kit cost 2000.
about the same but above one better.
[link|http://www.arcom.com/products/icp/dev_kits/Linux/SBC_GXm.htm?source=goto|
http://www.arcom.com/products/icp/dev_kits/Linux/SBC_GXm.htm?source=goto]
Need to find the price of this one but look great.
[link|http://www.diamondsystems.com/products/prometheus|
http://www.diamondsystems.com/products/prometheus]
Any ideas on if these might work for what my client wants? I'd just need to get a double throw relay card made, and then get the Linux drivers for it.
Pete Moss' Peat Moss, when only the finest horsesh*t will do! ;)
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Post #74,028
1/11/03 12:27:00 AM
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Relays are all over the place
[link|http://www.chipcenter.com/circuitcellar/december00/c1200rp60.htm;$sessionid$WQVY3WQAAFXIIQSNDISCFEQ|Some general relay links]
A number of places [link|http://www.measurementcomputing.com/cbicatalog/directory.asp?dept_id=25"|including Measurement Computing] make relay racks; many are compatible with Opto 22's racks. You might have to search harder to find double throw.
Another popular way to go is DIN-rail mount relays, either embedded in slim-line modules (e.g. Phoenix Contact & competitors) or normal relays with DIN-rail mounts, with my old standby being [link|http://www.idec.com/usa/index.html|IDEC] and new favorite [link|http://www.findernet.com/index.php.en?country=US&gruppo=gruppo3|Finder].
If you need more help, try calling some of relay companies or their local reps or distributors.
Tony
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Post #74,100
1/12/03 1:56:08 AM
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Re: Relays are all over the place
I miss the gentle click of the relays in token-ring MAUs :)
During a network disaster, you could hear them going off and on all over the place - this IBM unit was really loud.
-drl
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Post #74,176
1/12/03 6:59:20 PM
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Re: Relays are all over the place
Double Throw six screw relays. 3 rows of 2 columns each for the screws. Every place I ask about this laughs at me. I don't even know what voltage he wants, and with him being in another state and not being able to meet with me to give me all the details he wants on the box, I am not 100% sure what I am looking for.
Oh I might as well just give it up, with my disability it is going to cause problems anyway.
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Post #73,922
1/10/03 1:52:02 PM
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Re: Get into the embedded world
People will pay me to do this? It's fun!
Where explicity do I look?
I've never had a shred of luck with remote programming gigs.
-drl
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Post #73,931
1/10/03 3:41:19 PM
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I myself got lucky
the guy who wanted it done had contacted me. But it may not work out as he is trying to move from California ot Missouri, and he hasn't given me a lot to work with. He thinks a Linux driver can be written without first having the hardware to write it on. Getting a box with double throw relays on it has been impossible to find. I will have to find a normal embedded Linux box with an expansion card, and then get an Electrical Engineer to design the card and then get the specs to write the Linux driver for it.
Keep in mind that the client may change his mind and go with a production house instead of me, he has so far halted all work on it until he can meet with me, because I cannot find an off the shelf solution with relays built into it.
Pete Moss' Peat Moss, when only the finest horsesh*t will do! ;)
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