Making a PC Serial Port (DB9) to Panasonic FP0/FP Sigma Programming Port cable
To use a Panasonic FP0 or FP Sigma PLC, you need a serial cable that goes from your PC (typically a DB connector! to the PLC"s Programming Port (a #$pin %ini$D&' connector! )ou )ou can buy the Panasonic *FC+#0%$-S *FC+#0%$-S cable for about .#0 /hich /ill do the ob, or you can build your o/n for about .# The Panasonic cable has one big plus $ the %ini$D&'$# connector is right angle, /hich can be handy if the PLC is in a tight space & ha1e not been able to find a right angle %ini$D&'$# connector &f you are going to communicate /ith the PLC, & recommend buying a model /ith t/o serial ports $ use the e2tra port for regular communications, and the Programming Port for debugging Panasonic helpfully pro1ides a cable diagram or diagram or t/o, but &"1e found that a simpler method /or3s better Wiring Diagram for Programming Port Cable to DB9F PLC 5 Pin MiniD!" Pin
Signal
+ 5 7 # F4
Signal 4round T2 Transmit Data 62 6ecei1e Data 8#9 %etal Connector Shell
PC DB9 Female Connections to MiniD!" Pin Signal
#ecommen$e$ Panasonic %FC&5'0MS9 Panasonic %FC50*
+ 5 7 # : ; < F4
'ot Connected
DCD 62 6ecei1e Data T2 Send Data DT6 Signal 4round DS6 6TS CTS C& %eta %etall Conne Connect ctor or Shel Shelll
MiniD!" Pin ' MiniD!" Pin *
'ot Connected MiniD!" Pin &
'ot Connected 'ot Connected 'ot Connected 'ot Connected MiniD!" F+
'ot Connected %iniD&' Pin %iniD&' Pin 5 DB Pin : %iniD&' Pin + DB Pin 7 DB Pin < DB Pin ; 'ot Connected %iniD&' F4
DB Pins 7,: %iniD&' Pin %iniD&' Pin 5 DB Pins +,: %iniD&' Pin + DB Pins +,7 DB Pin < DB Pin ; 'ot Connected %iniD&' F4
Bill ,f Materials
+ DBF=F DBF=F or DBF=% DBF=% cable cable of the desired desired length, length, straight straight /ired /ired & used a : foot DB%= DB%=F F cable, a1ailable at Fry"s for about .7 * %ini$ %ini$D&' D&' # conne connect ctor or & used used a >obiconn +;+$:0#, +;+$:0#, price about .+
+ )ou can also use some :$pin %ini$D&' connector by pulling out the si2th pin For e2ample, Fry"s often doesn"t ha1e any #$pin %ini$D&' plugs Proce$-re
+ &f you use different parts (&"m assuming a DB%=F cable and a solder cup %ini$D&' connector li3e the >obiconn!, you may ha1e to change the details a bit Cut off the male end of the DB%=F cable, lea1ing the Female connector and cable 5 6emo1e about +? (maybe more! of insulation, strip the /ires about 0+?, and meter the cable to find /hat color /ires are connected to pins ,5,# Cut off the rest of the /ires (for pins +,7,:,;,<,! + %y cable had $)L@, 5$A64, #$B6', but 6S$5 cable colors aren"t standardied, so you ha1e to chec3 7 Carefully remo1e pins +,,5 from the %ini$D&' connector (use pliers on the solder cup end! # Carefully solder the pins to the /ires (my soldering doesn"t loo3 great, but it /or3s! + Consider putting some heat shrin3 tubing o1er the /ires (& didn"t do this, but it could impro1e reliability! )ou might ha1e to put the tubing on before soldering, then shrin3 it after soldering : Put the strain relief=outer co1er onto the cable %y cable /as 3ind of thic3 $ & could only get into the strain relief part, /hich made final assembly more difficult ; Solder the DB cable"s braided shield to one of the %ini$D&' metal shells < Push the pins bac3 into the %ini$D&' connector, being careful to put them into the correct location Carefully assemble the connector (pin part, metal shells, plastic shells! into the strain relief & /as barely able to manage this because my cable /as too thic3 for the strain relief Do not push the strain relief do/n all the /ay yet (it"s hard to remo1e once you"1e pressed it do/n all the /ay! +0 Test the cable using a PLC, PC,and FP@inPro ++ Ance it /or3s, press the strain relief do/n all the /ay &t"s really much easier than it sounds, especially after the first time .e Final #es-lt
