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Old June 13th 18, 06:04 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Dan Marotta
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Posts: 4,601
Default Feeding Two Devices from PowerFLARM

I have done pretty much what you're asking in my Stemme and I've posted
it before.Â* Here's what I did:

I powered my PowerFlarm Portable via the round connector which is
energized with the Master Switch in the glider and turned on by pushing
the button on the PF unit.

I made my own cables to length as follows:Â* An RJ-45 to RJ-45 from the
PF Portable to a 1 to 2 RJ-45 splitter
https://www.amazon.com/SinLoon-Splitter-Interface-Ethernet-Connector/dp/B017SND70G/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1528909011&sr=8-3&keywords=rj-45+splitter
purchased from Amazon.Â* I also purchased the tools and connectors from
Amazon.Â* They were inexpensive.Â* Pay close attention to the cable
diagrams for the various devices as, IIRC, my cables are not standard
RJ-45, but custom wired for the application.

I made a similar cable to connect my ClearNav variometer to the ClearNav
computer/display, also via another RJ-45 splitter.

So far, the PF Portable and the ClearNav vario each communicate directly
to the ClearNav computer.

What about the spare outputs from the cable splitters?Â* I sent each of
those to a K6-BT device (again with custom cables, pay attention to
inputs, outputs and grounds) which I paired to two input channels of a
Dell Streak 5 running XCSoar which is mounted on the right side of the
cockpit for my wife.Â* I set up the Streak as input only so that no
commands could be sent from it.

Everything works perfectly.Â* Both the ClearNav computer/display and the
Streak/XCSoar receive GPS, variometer data, and PowerFlarm targets
simultaneously.

I hope that helps. ;-)

On 6/13/2018 9:55 AM, wrote:
Yeah, I know this has been discussed. I've researched it. But I can't find this specific question answered.

I want to connect my PowerFLARM Portable to my LX FLARMView AND to my Kobo running TopHat. I don't think I need or can use a K6 Mux box: I'm not combining multiple inputs into a common output. It's the reverse: I want to use a single input to drive two outboard devices. I know there are other devices I can buy but I'm hoping it's really simple:

1. My PowerFLARM Portable has only one data port--an RJ45--vs. the two ports on the core--an RJ45 plus a DSub-9.
2. My FLARMView (rectangular model) has only one port--an RJ11--vs. the two such ports on the FLARMView 57 (round model)
3. I'm using an RJ45 cable to provide 12v to the PowerFLARM although I can also provide power via a separate dedicated power connector. I've also wired that cable to provide 5v to the Kobo and deliver the RX/TX wires to it from the PowerFLARM for GPS and FLARM target data.
4. Power and GPS/target data for the FLARMView are via a cable with an RJ45 connector on the PowerFLARM end and an RJ11 on the FLARMView end.
5. AFAIK, I'm not transmitting anything to the PowerFLARM from the Kobo/TopHat: i.e., no flight declarations, no MacCready settings. The same thing is true, I think, for the FLARMView: no downloads. To the best of my knowledge, all data moves in one direction only: from the PowerFLARM to the FLARMView and to the Kobo/TopHat (for GPS location and targets). Each of these set ups works fine: i.e., PowerFLARM connected to the Kobo/Top Hat and PowerFLARM connected to the FLARMView. But I have to pick one or the other now. I'd like to drive both devices at the same time.

So under this simplified case, can I simply connect the RJ45 ends of cables from the FLARMView and the Kobo into a dual-port adaptor and plug that into the back of the PowerFLARM, while providing power to the PowerFLARM via the separate connection?

Why, you ask? Well, I'm seeing some but not all of the FLARM target info displayed in Top Hat--the problem I posted about last year. So until I figure out a way to solve that problem, I'd like to have the small FLARMView display up at the same time as Top Hat is running on the Kobo.

Chip Bearden


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Dan, 5J