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Old 2009.04.14, 05:15 AM   #1
dabinn
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[DIY]MINI-Z ASF/ADBAND/dNaNo I.C.S Cable

The I.C.S. cable sold by Kyosho, part no 82080, is 6825 yen in list price...


▲The original ICS calbe is too expensive. But you have to get one if you want to setup your ASF/Ad band/dNaNo PCBs.

Though this generation of ICS cable is changed, it uses USB interface.But in fact it is the same with the older RS232 version -- It only added RS232 to USB circuit. So If you want to make this cable by your self, just make a RS232 version like the older one. And if you have no RS232 on your computer, just buy a RS232 to USB adaptor , connect to the RS232 ICS cable, and it will work like the original USB ICS cable.


At first, Let's see the ciruit inside the ICS calbe.
(This circuit is provided by "CORN", but too bad he didn't come this forum.)


There are only two transistors, few resistances and diodes inside. These may take no more than 1 dollar. And this circuit is not very special,too. It only convert the voltage of RS232 signal to the voltage of MINI-Z.


The materials.

.1/4w resistances: 1KΩ*1+10KΩ*2+39KΩ*2
.diodes: 1N4148*1
.transistors: 2N3904*2, or 2SC1815*2.
I have no 2N3904 in hand, so I replaced it with 2SC1815. Both of these transistors are OK.


We need a RS232 9pin female connector for computer.

.RS232 female connector
.RS232 case

Take a cable which has at least 3 lines. I use a PC CD-ROM calbe.



I didn't have the connectors for MINI-Z/dNaNo while I took this photos, so we got no photos here. These are standard male connectors(JST ZH series) with 1.5mm pitch. Ad band uses a 3pin connector, and ASF/dNaNo uses a 4pin one.You may find them on a "electronic store"(??don't know how to said that), or buy on the net.



We'll try not using a PCB, just wire the components and place it into RS232 case directly. Let's see the 2 most complex components: the transistors.

▲This seems OK, not too big.。


▲It would be better to make some drawing before we really start to wire.



▲The simplest way to judge the pin assignment of transistors: use a an electric meter. (Or you can search from internet.)


▲Wire the componets and prepare to solder.
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Last edited by dabinn; 2009.04.14 at 12:06 PM.
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Old 2009.04.14, 05:16 AM   #2
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▲The circuit is completed.


▲Solder the RS232 pins after confirming the circuit fits the RS232 case.


The MINI-Z side.

▲Since I have no female connectors for MINI-Z while I take these photo. I can only insert the pins into MINI-Z male connector directly. (Be careful! This is very danger for your MINI-Z)


The pin assignment on the MINI-Z:

▲AD Band

▲ASF


Connect to the computer an make a test:

▲Connect to MINI-Z with no connector....


▲Read the settings from mini-z successfully.

Test completed, some more works to do.

▲Use hot glue to fix everything.


▲Tie a knot on the cable and close the case.

Now we have our own ICS cables.



--
I'll take photos for the MINI-Z connectors latter.
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Old 2009.04.14, 05:23 AM   #3
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Holy cow, this is some REALLY good stuff. Can't wait till you have the right plug for the Mini-Z interface!
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Old 2009.04.14, 06:35 AM   #4
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Nice tutorial.
Bit late since I bought the cable this weekend.

I dont think I would trust myself hooking something homemade like that onto my mini-z either

But great support to the comunity and hopefully kyosho will drop their prices for the cables dramaticly now.
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Old 2009.04.14, 08:24 AM   #5
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So If I get a serial > USB cable, would I still have to take care of the voltage or will the USB connector take care of that? Then I could just connect the cables in the right spots and be done, no?
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Old 2009.04.14, 08:33 AM   #6
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[UPDATE]

▼The connectors
1.5mm pitch. 3pin is for Ad Band, ASF/dNaNo use a 4pin connector.


▼The other side.


▼We would better buy wires which have already crimped with terminals. Because it's not easy to crimp small terminals like these, and a specail tool is needed, too.
These terminals are especially for the 1.5mm connector.



▼Done.
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Old 2009.04.14, 08:42 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skv012a View Post
So If I get a serial > USB cable, would I still have to take care of the voltage or will the USB connector take care of that? Then I could just connect the cables in the right spots and be done, no?
The original one:
MINI-Z<----ICS cable---->[RS232](Your PC)

If you want to use USB:
MINI-Z<----ICS cable----(RS232)-- Serial to USB cable -->[USB](Your PC)

So no need to worried about the voltage between MINI-Z & USB, because we have already converted it into RS232 level.
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Old 2009.04.14, 09:56 AM   #8
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What I was asking is whether you can attach ICS cables to the serial-usb adapter straight and avoid making the ICS-serial cable.
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Old 2009.04.14, 10:37 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skv012a View Post
What I was asking is whether you can attach ICS cables to the serial-usb adapter straight and avoid making the ICS-serial cable.

No, the voltage level is different.

But you can try to find another device/converting cable called "USB to TTL converter". It convert USB to UART/TTL level (about 5V), and can fit the signal voltage of MINI-Z ASF(but not AD band & dNaNo). It is not very easy to buy, but you can find them on some website like this:
http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Eva...s/TTL-232R.htm


You may need to link the VCC & SIGNAL pin with a 4.7k resistance for this cable, or MINI-Z will think you don't connect anything on it. But the problem is...I can't make sure it will work or wont, for I have never got this device before.
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Last edited by dabinn; 2009.04.14 at 10:41 AM.
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Old 2009.04.14, 10:57 AM   #10
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Could you post a link or a serial number for the connectors where we can buy them ?
Or like you say a cable with the connector allready on it.

Thank you
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Old 2009.04.14, 12:15 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LED View Post
Could you post a link or a serial number for the connectors where we can buy them ?
Or like you say a cable with the connector allready on it.

Thank you
Here are the connectors:
3pin:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/Dk...me=455-1160-ND

4pin:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/Dk...me=455-1202-ND

And ASF use this on it's PCB:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/Dk...me=455-1659-ND


It's difficult for me to search components on a English site. I spend hours on it and can't find the wire with terminal pin, sorry.
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Old 2009.04.14, 12:36 PM   #12
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Sounds like I'll be hitting up my friend who still works @ Micro Center for some of this junk

Only thing I doubt is them having a serial female that you could disassemle/casing for it. Might dig around the house for straight up cables first.
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Old 2009.04.14, 12:57 PM   #13
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cool..about time someone post this kind of mod..
i wander if this cable (ASF/AD) also work on RV project(Atomic) electronic board, coz i got one.. it have a 3pin male connector on the pcb, should it be the same with the AD-band cable??? can i program it with the kyosho software>?
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Old 2009.04.14, 01:41 PM   #14
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Fabulous post! Thanks a lot for the info!

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Old 2009.04.15, 02:44 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by QDriver View Post
cool..about time someone post this kind of mod..
i wander if this cable (ASF/AD) also work on RV project(Atomic) electronic board, coz i got one.. it have a 3pin male connector on the pcb, should it be the same with the AD-band cable??? can i program it with the kyosho software>?
Sorry, I am not familiar with this board.
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