Dobbytron Installation
Contents:
Required Items
Attaching the Dobbytron to a loom and computer requires
that you have the correct cables and power supply.
Loom Cables
Looms up to 16 harnesses have a single cable connecting them to the Dobbytron while looms of 17 or more harnesses use two cables. These cables have 25-pin female connectors at each end. The cables are physically interchangeable. Because of this, it's possible to install them backwards (that is, swapped) on two-cable looms. The Dobbytron is labelled as "A 1-16" and "B 17-32" (see diagram below). If the labels are lost, the "A 1-16" connector is on the left as you look at the rear of the unit.
If you have a two-cable Dobbytron and a single
cable loom (that is, if the Dobbytron has the capacity for more
than 16 harnesses but your loom is 16 or fewer harnesses), use the
"A 1-16" connector.
Computer Serial Cable
The computer is connected to the Dobbytron using a serial
cable that connects to a serial port on the computer. The
connector on the Dobbytron uses 9 pins. It is the right-most
connector on the rear of the unit. Most "Windows" computers have
a similar 9-pin connector for their serial port, and so use a
9-pin to 9-pin cable. Macintosh computers either have an 8-pin
round serial port connector (labelled either "Printer" or "Modem"
port), or use a USB-to-serial adaptor which must be separately purchased.
USB To Serial Converter Installation of USB-to-serial converters.
Power Pack The Dobbytron uses an external 'power pack' style power supply. This is a
universal supply that operates almost anywhere in the world. It comes with
a country-specific power cord that plugs into the power pack.