SP Controls SmartPanel - Manual (Page 10)

Page 6 SmartPanel Configuration and Installation Guide
www.spcontrols.com © 2002-8 SP Controls, Inc. 930 Linden Ave. So. San Francisco CA 94080
I
NSTALLING THE
C
ONFIGURATION
S
OFTWARE
After unpacking the SmartPanel, you should install the included Configuration Utility software
and verify that you can communicate with the Panel.
The Configuration Utility requires Windows 95™ or later. Make sure you have an 9-pin male to
9-pin female RS-232 cable (wired straight through), which is not included. This cable connects
your computer to the Panel’s Configuration Port (upper left, Panel rear).
Running the Installation Program
To install the Configuration Utility software, insert the Utility CD-ROM into your floppy drive and
run the Setup program found on that disk. This program installs the Utility on your computer. By
default, the Utility and its accompanying files (e.g., projector drivers and their application note)
are placed in the
\Program Files\SPC\
directory on your main hard disk (usually C:). A shortcut to the Utility is placed in your Windows
Start button menu as Start: Programs: SmartPanel Utilities: SmartPanel Configuration
Utility.
Connecting the Panel to your Computer
To configure the Panel, you must supply it with power and connect it to your PC (a laptop is
convenient), as shown in Figure 3.
Power should be supplied to the Panel with the included 12VDC regulated power supply. When
powered, all of the lights on the Panel rapidly flash in sequence as it runs through a power-on
self-test. If this self-test does not occur, make sure you have correctly powered the unit (see
Wiring Panel Power or the Troubleshooting Guide if necessary).
Connect the Panel to your computer by attaching the male 9-pin end of your RS-232 cable (not
included) to the Panel’s Configuration Port. Attach the female end of the cable to any free Com
Port on your computer.
Note: It is your responsibility to make sure that the Com Port you are using is enabled and
configured correctly. You don’t need to worry about communications settings (e.g., baud
rate), but you do need to make sure that the communication port you wish to connect
through has not been disabled at the hardware level (if you have used the Com Port before
for other applications, you should have no problems).
Note: It is not necessary to disconnect the Panel from the projector to run the Configuration
Utility.