HP Forum Archive 19

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

HP12c repurposing project Message #1 Posted by TomL on 4 June 2010, 8:29 p.m. Hi I read about the repurposing project for the HP12c and was wondering if anyone has updates? HP12C Wiki The photographs show 2xCR2032 batteries and the serial connector yet I've seen that the new HP12Cs only use one CR2032. Does anyone know if this also has the serial connector? And speaking of the serial connector, Ive read that it is available on HPs site but I haven't found it there or even seen a mention of it in the HP20B SDK? All the best Tom

Re: HP12c repurposing project Message #2 Posted by Don Shepherd on 4 June 2010, 8:40 p.m., in response to message #1 by TomL The new 12c+ uses two CR2032's; you can tell by the extra-wide battery door, which is visible from the shrinkwrap. If you buy a 12c today and it has one CR2032, it is not the ARM-based unit.

Re: HP12c repurposing project Message #3 Posted by Katie Wasserman on 4 June 2010, 9:53 p.m., in response to message #1 by TomL Quote: And speaking of the serial connector, Ive read that it is available on HPs site but I haven't found it there or even seen a mention of it in the HP20B SDK? I haven't heard anything about this, do you have a pointer to where you read this? Thanks, Katie p.s. Richard Nelson's artcile tells you pretty much everything you need to know in order to make your own serial programming cable except how to make the fancy 6 pin plug (or better still, where to buy it). Edited: 4 June 2010, 9:57 p.m.

Re: HP12c repurposing project Message #4 Posted by TomL on 4 June 2010, 10:09 p.m., in response to message #3 by Katie Wasserman Hi Katie It says that its available from HP on the Wiki site (I linked to it on my first post) I suppose it is easy enough to make that serial cable but itll be a pain to need to hold it in place while flashing. Suppose we need to contact Cyrille for this? Tom

Re: HP12c repurposing project Message #5 Posted by Katie Wasserman on 4 June 2010, 10:16 p.m., in response to message #4 by TomL This is getting rather circular, I was the one that wrote that on the Wiki. Yes, as far as I know Cyrille or Tim from HP are the only people who can provide this cable. -Katie Edited: 4 June 2010, 10:18 p.m.

Re: HP12c repurposing project Message #6 Posted by TomL on 4 June 2010, 11:04 p.m., in response to message #5 by Katie Wasserman So, I received an email from Richard (very fast!) and it appears that Cyrille at HP is the only person with these cables so Ive contacted him Has anyone tried the HP20B SDK with an HP12C? Any experiences?

Re: HP12c repurposing project Message #7 Posted by Katie Wasserman on 5 June 2010, 12:31 a.m., in response to message #6 by TomL The 20b SDK won't work on the 12C+, only the CPU is the same the peripherals are all different, but there is an SDK of sorts (sample program actually) for the 12C+. Ask Cyrille about this.

Re: HP12c repurposing project Message #8 Posted by Scott Newell on 4 June 2010, 10:31 p.m., in response to message #3 by Katie Wasserman Quote: programming cable except how to make the fancy 6 pin plug (or better still, where to buy it). I've been wondering if the Mill-Max strips (Mill-Max product page ) would work. That wouldn't get you the nice snap in housing, through. Next time I place an order I'll see about getting one of those strips to test.

Re: HP12c repurposing project Message #9 Posted by Katie Wasserman on 5 June 2010, 12:38 a.m., in response to message #8 by Scott Newell Pogo pins are pretty easy to find maybe even in 2 x 3 arrangements. But unless you can create some sort of locking plug it's going to be hard to hold the connector in place while programming. Maybe you could come up with some sort of fixture that the calculator could rest in when programming. The pogo pins would point up and I think that the weight of the calculator would be enough to make contact with all 6 pins.

Re: HP12c repurposing project Message #10 Posted by Scott Newell on 5 June 2010, 1:40 a.m., in response to message #9 by Katie Wasserman I too had thoughts of a fixture. Now that I've moved to windows XP, SAM-BA programs pretty quickly. It wouldn't be the end of the world to have to hold the contacts in place while programming (but unworkable if you were using the serial port for debugging). The trick would be hitting the calc's on key while holding the connector in place, holding down the erase button, and starting up SAM-BA. If I was to build a fixture or cable from scratch, I'd seriously consider using the PC's serial port handshake lines to control the erase and reset pins, and maybe included a 3.3V regulator to power the calc from the PC as well. If only you could hit the on key through the cable, the whole programming process could be automated. Now I did modify my programming cable so that I can power the calc off a 6218A power supply instead of using the coin cells. It also makes it easier to measure the current drain without having clip leads dangling everywhere.

Re: HP12c repurposing project Message #11 Posted by Katie Wasserman on 5 June 2010, 10:44 a.m., in response to message #10 by Scott Newell Quote: Now I did modify my programming cable so that I can power the calc off a 6218A power supply That's an excellent idea and a cute little power supply too. (Yes, describing a power supply as 'cute' is more than a little weird but this family of of HP (pre-Agilent) power supplies really are.)

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Go back to the main exhibit hall