Scientech 10K Series - Manual (Page 16)

Using Bi-Directional Communications:
Scientech electronic balances, interfaced to a computer via the RS-232 port, can be controlled by a computer program in the same way
an operator would control the balance using a PDA. Any programming language with access to the RS-232 interface can be used to
program this control. The balance expects ASCII character instruction strings and responds with ASCII character data strings. All
characters with an ASCII value less than the space character (decimal 32 of hex 20), are ignored by the balances.
If local control has been enabled (LC on) via RS-232 front panel configuration, RS-232 communication is limited to balance sending
only as all incoming RS-232 command strings are ignored by the balance. To enable bi-directional RS-232 communication, set the
local control to off (see RS-232 Front Panel Configuration section).
Bi-Directional RS-232 Command Set:
The following commands can be sent to the balance in any combination of upper and lower case characters. No action is taken by the
balance until it receives a carriage return indicating the end of the command string. Each command's syntax is described using this
notation; keywords are in upper case; items in [ ] are required; when one item must be chosen from a list, each choice is enclosed in
( ); CR means the carriage return or enter character; LF means the line feed character; and _ indicates a single space character. A
command string or entry is considered to be a keyword (and/or a numeric string) followed by a carriage return. The commands are
listed by type.
• Type 1 commands are balance control functions.
• Type 2 commands are balance input functions.
• Type 3 commands are balance output functions.
• Type 4 commands are clock/calendar functions.
Where a balance response is given, no attempt has been made to show the actual message formats. You should refer to the section on
balance message formats for detailed information. Numbers stored in the registers are classified by the balance software as being
additive, multiplicative, or unflagged. Additive numbers are used by the balance software in addition and subtraction operations.
Multiplicative numbers are used in multiplication and division operations. Unflagged numbers aren't used in any arithmetic functions.
If you try to use an additive number in a function which requires a multiplicative number the balance responds with the register
contents (if applicable) and a ? and the instruction is ignored.
Type 1 Commands – Balance Control Functions:
Command Response Purpose
CLEAR [CR] None Clears the previous command and resets the balance to
normal operating mode. The Tare register is cleared to zero
and the balance is zeroed.
HI_RANGE[CR] or
LO_RANGE[CR] or AUTO[CR] None Set the balance range.
GRAMS[CR] or CARATS[CR] or
DWT[CR] or OZT[CR] or OZ[CR] or
A[CR] or LIMITS[CR] or CAL1[CR]
or CAL2[CR] None Places the balance in the indicated mode or units. To abort
any of the CAL sequences or the LIMITS modes use
CLEAR[CR].
ZERO[CR] None The balance takes whatever action it would in response to a
push of the front panel zero switch. Normally tares the
balance.
TARE[CR] None If the balance is in the weighing mode, this command tares
the balance, otherwise it is ignored.
[decimal number]_HI[CR] None Sets the check weighing high limit register (register 88) to
the decimal number entered in the current units. Register
88 is undefined at every ON/OFF cycle.
[decimal number]_LO[CR] None Sets the check weighing low limit register (register 87) to
the decimal number entered in the current units. Register
87 is undefined at every ON/OFF cycle.
[decimal number]_CONVERT[CR] None Loads the number entered, as a "last front panel units"
relative multiplier, into the CONVERT register and enters
the CONVERT mode. CLEAR exits the convert mode and
un-defines the convert register.
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