AR488 Arduino-based GPIB adapter

[Tj138waterboy]

Can anyone with a 3478a meter tell me after plugging in arduino"any variant" at what point do the announciators show up on meter screen, "TLK/LSN? Do they show up when you set ++addr or only when using ++read?

[Jay_Diddy_B]

Hi,

I just happen to have a 3478A on my desk. I also have AR488 using the PCB designed by forum member artag.
First a few pictures of the assembled interface:










I have s/w version

AR488 GPIB controller, ver. 0.48.28, 01/07/2020

If I use Tera Term to communicate with the 3478A. My 3478A is set to HPIB address 24.

I send

++auto
++addr 24

if I send

++read

The RMT indication comes on and stays on.
The TLK flash briefly when the 3478A is transmitting data.

RMT can be turned off by pressing the LOCAL button on the DMM.

if I set it to local and I enter

++read

The TLK flashes when transmitting, but the RMT stays off.

If I send

H1

(H1 configures the meter for DCV)

The RMT comes on and stays on.

Does this help?

Jay_Diddy_B

[Tj138waterboy]

Greatly appreciated.  Just built a 3rd adapter and still no luck. Anything obvious other than not soldered in pic?

[Jay_Diddy_B]

Greatly appreciated.  Just built a 3rd adapter and still no luck. Anything obvious other than not soldered in pic?

I am assuming that you have programmed the arduinio?

When I plug mine in three LEDs are on. A green one close to the USB connector and two red ones by the crystal oscillator.

In the Arduino IDE, Tools -> Serial Monitor

It will open a terminal window:




In the line type ++ver  and then click send

The red lights blink briefly during the communications.

The AR488 should respond with the version string. This will tell you that the Arduinio is programmed and working.

Try this.

Jay_Diddy_B

[Tj138waterboy]

Im getting 3 red leds when plugged in. Not sure if the red one next to micro usb is bi-color or maybe chinese knockoff that uses different color led than others but im getting exact same return when typing ++ver on arduino serial monitor. Another question is are yiu uploading sketch as board "Arduino Micro"? When I first plugged in before programming boards it was detected as Leonardo.

[Jay_Diddy_B]

Hi,

I have my Arduino set like this:




I am not sure if I set it Arduino Micro manually or if it was detected




Regards,

Jay_Diddy_B

[Tj138waterboy]

Well finally got ticked off enough to open up the meter and behold what I find. Have to blame myself due to replacing batteries and all caps.
Second meter was plugged in right and after fixing connector in first one both still not working. TBC

[The Soulman]

Well finally got ticked off enough to open up the meter and behold what I find. Have to blame myself due to replacing batteries and all caps.
Second meter was plugged in right and after fixing connector in first one both still not working. TBC

Happens to most of us sooner or later..
You may want to check the pinout of that connector and see if there are any voltages on there that could have damaged the arduino. 

[Tj138waterboy]

Finnally got 1 nano to work on both meters. Issue was ground connection.

[IanJ]

Hi all,

Is there a link to purchase the bare pcb anywhere,  or a link to the pcb files so I can build a few of these.

Eager to see if the AR488 will work with my windows based gpib logging software.

Ian.

[garrettm]

I would be interested in buying a blank AR488 PCB too.

If anyone has a spare they want to sell send me a PM.

I'd like to thank everyone that contributed to this project for their hard work!

[eliocor]

I have some of them (white color), version 3 with the correct hole size:
I paid just 5.20€ for 30 pieces (JLCPCB): I can ship some of them but you have to contact me via a private message.
Attached you will find the gerber files (directly uploadable to JLCPCB): just 3.30€ for 5 pieces or 5.45€ for 30 pieces....

[IanJ]

I have some of them (white color), version 3 with the correct hole size:
I paid just 5.20€ for 30 pieces (JLCPCB): I can ship some of them but you have to contact me via a private message.
Attached you will find the gerber files (directly uploadable to JLCPCB): just 3.30€ for 5 pieces or 5.45€ for 30 pieces....

Thanks.......I ordered mine through PcbWay using your files.

What about the BOM, can you let me know where you bought the connectors from, and also the best resource for the source code etc?

Thanks,

Ian.

[eliocor]

FW:
https://github.com/Twilight-Logic/AR488

HW:  IIRC EB67E model: please check!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/391507935311
https://richelectronics.co.uk/product/centronics-plugs-sockets-pcb-pcb-r-angle-idc-panel-mount-14-50-way-eb0067

[Jay_Diddy_B]

Hi,

I used the following connector:

NorComp 111-024-113L001

Digikey Part No: 1024PMA-ND

This is a straight connector as shown here:



The Arduino boards I bought from a Canadian Vendor on eBay. They were described as:

Pro Micro Atmega32u4 - Compatible With Arduino - 16MHz - 5V - 32kB - micro USB

Jay_Diddy_B

[mmcgraw74]

I wonder if the problem is your right angle GPIB connector.

Looking at the bare board photos on this page indicate the Arduino pin1 and GPIB pin1 are next to each other on the same end of the board as the Arduino USB connector.  Your photo shows GPIB pin 1 on the opposite end of the board.

[mmcgraw74]

Quote from: Tj138waterboy on December 09, 2020, 12:53:50 am
Greatly appreciated.  Just built a 3rd adapter and still no luck. Anything obvious other than not soldered in pic?

Sorry, my previous post was in reply to Tj138waterboy.

Is the green board in your photos the artag original layout or the v3 layout?

The v3 layout has GPIB pin 1 and Pro Mini pin 1 on the same end of the PCB.

Your photo shows GPIB pin 1 on the opposite end from the Pro Mini.  Is your PCB the original artag layout and GPIB pin 1 is in the correct hole?

[Tj138waterboy]

Edit pcb I ordered has pin 1 at opposite ends but I used still multimeter to beep out pin to pin and I didn't have it on the right way in the pic. I have since then used direct wiring to promicro and still can't get it to work. Even tried same trick I used on my nano board using all ground pins to arduino ground.

[m k]

Are all parts powered from same outlet?

Can you use external USB hub with own power?

You did those signal tests earlier and they were fine but then time was not involved.
Maybe it's still a grounding issue but farer back this time and new setting is more picky.

[Tj138waterboy]

Ok, finally got it right on the pro-micro. Issue was I have been looking at the wrong connector diagram or the right one but wrong perspective. After seeing pg 46 then pg 47 in the AR488 manual I started scratching my head and resoldered and works perfectly now. Sorry for the multiple messages and confusion to what would appear to be dummy proof instructions but I have to fail first to succeed I guess.

[hnjmkl]

From the arduino monitor I could not send commands, (AR488 and Arduino UNO), not even sending ++ ver I had an answer with the version string, I installed YAT and with the exception of the first send, then everything works, 3478A and 34401A.

[mcj7247]

Hello All. First a big thank you to the folks who developed the AR488 and decoded HP3478 GPIB protocols. I'm a beginner/hobbyist and just purchased an HP3478A and would love to try and read/write the calibration factors safely while I replace my 3V memory battery. I'm placing my orders on Digikey and JLCPCB for the battery, GPIB connector (NorComp 111-024-113L001) and PCB board (AR488V3 Gerbers) and would like to also replace any weak/faulty capacitors. Once you get more specific than Electrolytic vs Tantalum capacitor specs are a bit over my head . I could really use some direction, or perhaps even a Digikey part number, to the caps that require replacement?

I'd also like to offer up the extra PCB's to anyone else who might need them. I can order extra PCB's and GPIB connectors and reship to those located in the US. $2 per pcb and $6 per connector + shipping.

To the folks who contributed their time and expertise......Thanks again!

[pqass]

mcj7247:    I could really use some direction, or perhaps even a Digikey part number, to the caps that require replacement?

Not Digikey but these are the ones I used.  Apart from the value and the pin spacing, what's very important is that they are Class Y2.  https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/first-bench-multimeter-fluke-8840a-vs-hp-3478a/msg3100584/#msg3100584

If you'd like to read the proceedure I used for replacing the 3478a battery, read this thread; specifically the following two messages:   https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/first-bench-multimeter-fluke-8840a-vs-hp-3478a/msg3008694/#msg3008694   and   https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/first-bench-multimeter-fluke-8840a-vs-hp-3478a/msg3015428/#msg3015428

Any calibration data read from the meter can be decoded using this script:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/hp-3478a-how-to-readwrite-cal-sram/msg3210132/#msg3210132

Print the output and tape it to the inside of the meter for the next guy (which may be you).

[mcj7247]

Not Digikey but these are the ones I used.  Apart from the value and the pin spacing, what's very important is that they are Class Y2.  https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/first-bench-multimeter-fluke-8840a-vs-hp-3478a/msg3100584/#msg3100584

They popped up in Digikey part finder so thank you. I'll add them to my order.

If you'd like to read the proceedure I used for replacing the 3478a battery, read this thread; specifically the following two messages:   https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/first-bench-multimeter-fluke-8840a-vs-hp-3478a/msg3008694/#msg3008694   and   https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/first-bench-multimeter-fluke-8840a-vs-hp-3478a/msg3015428/#msg3015428

Any calibration data read from the meter can be decoded using this script:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/hp-3478a-how-to-readwrite-cal-sram/msg3210132/#msg3210132

Print the output and tape it to the inside of the meter for the next guy (which may be you).
[/quote] Let's hope not but I'd rather be prepared. And this will be a huge help. I'm confident with AR488/arduino side of the hardware connection but I'm going to need to study the command set in the manual  to understand how to request the calibration data. I'm not Linux savvy either. I appreciate the info and thanks for sharing.

[pqass]

Not Digikey but these are the ones I used.  Apart from the value and the pin spacing, what's very important is that they are Class Y2.  https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/first-bench-multimeter-fluke-8840a-vs-hp-3478a/msg3100584/#msg3100584

They popped up in Digikey part finder so thank you. I'll add them to my order.

If you'd like to read the proceedure I used for replacing the 3478a battery, read this thread; specifically the following two messages:   https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/first-bench-multimeter-fluke-8840a-vs-hp-3478a/msg3008694/#msg3008694   and   https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/first-bench-multimeter-fluke-8840a-vs-hp-3478a/msg3015428/#msg3015428

Any calibration data read from the meter can be decoded using this script:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/hp-3478a-how-to-readwrite-cal-sram/msg3210132/#msg3210132

Print the output and tape it to the inside of the meter for the next guy (which may be you).

Let's hope not but I'd rather be prepared. And this will be a huge help. I'm confident with AR488/arduino side of the hardware connection but I'm going to need to study the command set in the manual  to understand how to request the calibration data. I'm not Linux savvy either. I appreciate the info and thanks for sharing.

Although I have not used it, see lmesters Windows program: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/hp-3478a-how-to-readwrite-cal-sram/msg2884720/#msg2884720     or   https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/free-hp3478a-multimeter-control-program/

Alternatively, you can converse with the AR488 via Hyper Terminal or similar program.
The 3478a command to extract a cal byte is this character sequence within the double-quotes: "W<esc><addr><cr>++read<cr>"
Where: <esc> is ASCII 27 decimal (1b hex); this will escape the next character,
           <addr> is a single ASCII character representing the address of the byte requested; from 0 to 255 decimal,
           <cr> is ASCII 13 decimal (0d hex) character
Issue the sequence for every address 0 through to 255. The first byte returned is the cal data at that address.

For all 3478a commands, see Table 3-6 in the manual here: https://www.qsl.net/n9zia/test/HP3478_Service_Manual.pdf