parallel port
 

ok what i want to try to do is, create a circuit that uses the parallel port to control my CCFL and fan voltages. I dont care about the software I can get that to work. But I need a circuit that will take the information from the parallel port, have a molex connection for power, and outputs of 1 or 2 molex connectors for CCFL's, and 1 or 2 molex connectors for controlling the fan voltages plugged into it.
I would like to be able to have software say, apply 7v to fan A, turn on the CCFL's, and apply 12v to fan B, and to be able to turn them all off, or all on (full power).
I know this is possible, but I am terriable at electronics.

Thanks for your time.

It is possible, but you will need to program the software to do it, design the circuitboard to control it, and find a way to keep it contained. This would be a major undertaking.

I would guess that serial port would be a lot easier to make go. You can then use serial to USB adapter as well. It CAN be done with Parallel but the NT OSes aren't particularly friendly for parallel port commands.

See if you can find a copy new/used of "Controlling the World With Your PC" by Paul Bergsman. It's one of the better books that I have found on the topic of parallel port interfacing. But again, this book was written in 1994 and was designed for an MS-DOS OS. So, if you don't mind writing code under an NT system for your interface card, go for it.

FWIW, I can get my win9x software for accessing the maxim 6655 in NT by running this port io driver:

http://www.driverlinx.com/DownLoad/DlPortIO.htm

Might be of interest/use

:drool: :drool: :drool:

If this does what I think it does then you da man! Is this similar to http://www.direct-io.com? My CNC mill's controller runs off the printer port. Which in XP doesn't allow it to work. I had to download direct i/o to get it to work but they want $29.00 to register it or it will stop working in 30days....

yea it installs an NT service that lets XP or 2k communicate with parallel port hardware properly

Cool, I bought my laptop with one of the justifications to use it with my mill so i could set the mill up where ever I wanted and use the laptop to run it. Got the laptop with XP on it and it didn't work. Asked the manufacture and they say to buy that Direct I/O or use Win9X. :mad: $1,800 for a mill and I have to buy something to make it work! I was just about to buy a license for Direct I/O. Good timming. I will see if this will work instead. :)

Anyway, sorry for the offtopic modtheplanet.