Help connecting to C-Touch needed!

I am having problems connecting to my C-touch screen. In my home I have a Cbus system comprising of 1x PC Interface (Address 000), 2x Din rail 8 ch Dimmers (Add 001 & 003), 2x Din rail 12 ch volt free relay (Add 002 & 004), 10x various input units (Add 005 to 014) and a PC_CTA Touchscreen Type 'A' B&W. (Address 015)
Connecting to the PCI using a PC via COM1 I am able to program all of the units on the network except the Touchscreen without any problems at all.
I have tried to connect to the touchscreen using the cable provided using the same PC via COM1 and am unable to connect.
I am using Cbus Toolkit V1.7.4 - Server C-Gate V2.6.1 build 2236 and Piced V4.3
If I try to connect to the screen via COM1 direct it will not connect and when I go into the options for PC Connection to unit COM1 the box for baud rate is greyed out and the only way I can get this box to operate is to open the project for a B&W C-touch Mark 2, which of course comes up with a message 'Could not connect to unit, Wrong device type, Project type is C-Touch Mark 2, connected unit is C-Touch.
But if I try to send the original project for the C-Touch and set the type to C-Touch it will not connect.
I work in industry where I program HMI Touchscreens from Allen Bradley, Seimens, Mitsubishi and a couple of lesser known companies and have had no problems but this one is very frustrating and I know it is probably something simple but I can't seem to find it.
I would be very grateful for your help with this one.
Cheers
Trev

 

The C-Touch Mark 1 does not support variable baud rates. This is why it is greyed out.

I am glad you said "of course" in there. I was getting worried

You haven't said what happens when it doesn't connect. The error message should contain some information to give us an idea of what is going on. The most common cause is that some other application (often C-Gate) is using the serial port.

 

More info on C-touch problem!

Hi Darren,
Sorry I took so long to reply. When I set it to Com 1 and then tell Piced to connect, it comes up with an empty bar 'Connecting to COM1' which obviously times out then comes up with the message.
Error - 14603
Could not connect to unit.
Communications failed.

Does this give you the information you need to help diagnose my problem?

I am very grateful for your help!
Trev.

 

This message is generated when the C-Touch unit does not reply to PICED. See the FAQ help file topic "C-Touch Connection problems" for details of possible causes.

 

Hi Darren,
I have viewed the FAQ's regarding C-touch connection problems:

The PC's which I am using have only one COM port (COM1) and this is selected okay in the program.
I have used two different PC's with working comm ports, one of which I always use to connect to the PCI and allows me to program this easily, even with a 10 metre extention cable to my serial port. Incidentally, I have not used the 10mtr extension when trying to program the C-touch, only the supplied cable as I read about cable length being important.
I do have some gender changers at work and an RS232 adaptor which gives a visible indication of which signals are active in the cable. If this is any help to you I will bring them home and see what results I get. Is this worth a try?
I can only assume that from the FAQ's:
1) My supplied cable is faulty or
2) My C-Touch is faulty.
If you would be so kind as to point me to a cable pinout for the supplied interface cable then I will check it out and if needed, I will make another one up.
Thanks,
Trev.

 

It isn't clear from this whether you are saying you can program the C-Touch from one PC but not the other. If that is the case, then the cable and C-Touch unit are not at fault.

Possibly.

The C-Touch Monochrome Touch Screen Installation Instructions contains the pin-out for the RJ-45 connector. The other connector is wired as standard RS-232 (Google it if needed).

 

Isn't there some issue of the Com Port using some "non-standard" commands with the B&W touch?

In other words, the fact that the port works fine to program with (say) Toolkit and a PCI is no indication that it will work in Piced with a B&W Touch Screen?

I seem to remember that on some computers I could never program a C-touch, although I could use them in Toolkit and PCI just fine. Can't remember the details now... or perhaps I am thinking of something else...

 

Maybe you are thinking of the Nirt plate, that is very fussy about comports. (Excluding the USB download cable which rocks)

 

Tease....

When is this one likely to become available to us mere mortals??

 

Isn't it shipping yet? Damn, I can't believe it. I just assumed since it was almost ready to ship 13 months ago that it would have. I'll have to ask what is happening. (I'm a bit out of loop nowadays)

 

No

The communications with C-Touch is at a higher baud rate than when using a PCI. It also uses the handshaking lines to derive power for the serial port. If your computer's COM port is not entirely up to spec, then it is possible for it to work with a PCI, but not a C-Touch.

 

Darren,

I am unable to program with either PC. I would be happy if I could program with either one!
I will check cable, etc this weekend and post results.
Cheers!
Trev.

 

I am having the exact same problem, what was the solution

thanks in advance
shane

 

Hi,
I have had this same problem previously and found it to be the cable. Find a cable that works, bin the rest.

Regards

 

thanks geeland

will source another cable.
find it amazing that it could be the cable, especialy with the price that csi charges for the unit itself

cheers
shane

 

Can someone please elaborate for me whether the RS232 connection on C-Touch Colour acts as a gateway to CBUS in much the same way as the PCI? I have a PCI connected to PC/Homegate, and I have just bought a CTC that I would like to connect to my ProntoPro to get bi-control serial commands between it and CBUS. Can I do this, or do I need another PCI?