Contact Closer Contents

About Contact Closer

How to Use Contact Closer

Bells and Whistles

Disclaimer

Distribution

Shareware


About Contact Closer

This program toggles the potential difference across pins 1 and 25 on your PC's parallel port. The voltage initially is about 5 volts.  This program drops the voltage to zero for 2 seconds at user specified intervals (ie. Run time).

Why is the program called "contact closer?"  Well,  I wrote the program to trigger devices that sense a closed circuit using what is known as contact closure detection.  The devices that I specifically had in mind were peak generators and Analog to Digital converters, although I'm sure that there are others.

In order to actually see any functionality out of this program you must make the cable described and attach it to a device that can be triggered by a contact closure.  A voltmeter set in "continuity check" mode and connected to pins 1 and 25 will also demonstrate what this program does.

Strictly speaking, this program should not be used as a contact closure device, because there is an initial potential difference across the pins.  Such devices in real life are typically solenoid activated or pure mechanical devices.  On the other hand, most sensing devices can handle the 5v and with no harm done to the parallel port either.


The Cable

To make this cable, you need:

- A 25 pin male shield

- At least 2 male pins (more for when you make mistakes)

- Some thin wire (20 - 22 AWG) in two pieces.... preferably a different color.

- Solder and iron or a crimper

- A wire stripper

It's best to have two different color wires (red/black) so that you can easily distinguish between positive and negative leads.

Cut the two pieces to the desired length and use a wire stripper to expose about 1/8 inch of bare wire at each end.  For each wire, solder or crimp one end into a male pin.

Force the red wire (positive) into slot 1 of the 25 pin shield.  Force the black wire (ground) into slot 25.  If you purchased a shield with pins then just solder the red to pin 1 and the black to pin 25.

Connect the shield to LPT1 on the PC.  Connect the other ends of the wires to the device being triggered.  Remember, polarity is important.  You'll know when you put the wires on backwards, because that will trigger the sensing device.


How to User Contact Closer
How to Use Contact Closer

Its fairly easy....

1.  Type in the length of the interval in minutes in the "Run time" field.

2.  Type the number of intervals in the "Number of injections" field.

3.  Use the spinner control to set a delay between intervals in seconds.

4.  Hit the 'START' button.

Note:	Unless you have made the cable, and have a contact closure sensing device attached, this program will appear to do nothing except keep track of time, and make noises once in a while.

To stop the run in mid progress, Hit the "Stop" Button.  When Stop is pressed, all values are set back to there original value,  ie. the run cannot be continued where you left off.

After a run has been initiated, you can see when the run will be finished by clicking on the clock in the lower right corner.  The clock will keep running when you do this; to let you know that your not looking at the current time a little "F" will appear next to the clock.  Clicking on another edit field will force the clock to display the correct time.


Bells and Whistles

Blue Gauge:	Visually depicts the status of the current run (interval) in progress.

Red Gauge:	Visually depicts the status of the total run.

Alarm:	Makes noise during the two seconds that the circuit is closed.

Clock:	Displays the current time as the PC knows it.  When the clock has the focus, it displays the approximate time the run will finish.


Disclaimer

PERTAINING TO CONTACT CLOSER V1.2. BILL WILLIAMS SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS, OR CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ALL SUCH WARRANTIES ARE EXPRESSLY AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMED.  NEITHER BILL WILLIAMS NOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF THIS SOFTWARE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE SUCH SOFTWARE EVEN IF BILL WILLIAMS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR CLAIMS.  THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.

Some States do not allow the exclusion of the limit of liability for consequential or incidental damages, so the above limitation may not apply to you.

This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey and shall inure to the benefit of Bill Williams and any successors, administrators, heirs, and assigns.  Any action or proceeding brought by either party against the other arising out of or related to this agreement shall be brought only in a STATE or FEDERAL COURT of competent jurisdiction located in Morris County, New Jersey.  The parties hereby consent to in personam jurisdiction of said courts.


Distribution and DonationWare
Distribution

You may distribute Contact Closer v1.2 without my consent under the following conditions:

1.  It is copied / distributed as the original archive.

2.  No fees may be charged.


Shareware

Contact Closer is Shareware, Which means that you are required to register it after a trial period of 5 days. The program is not crippled, and there are no "nag" screens.  Payment is "on your honor" but you only have to pay if you find the program useful and continue to use it beyond the trial period. The Registration fee is $5 and can be mailed to the address below:

Bill Williams

30 Highwood Rd.

Denville, NJ 07834

Benifits of Registration are:

1.	You will receive the latest version of the program personally registered in your name.

2.	You will receive fully commented source code for the program.

3.	You will receive other windows novilty programs I have written, with source.

If you have any questions, please send your suggestions for improvement to:

70571.2112@compuserve.com

(I will even entertain questions from unregistered users.)