Category Archives: Blog

BMC : The MC-12A (PartI)

The MC-12A, the most advanced acquisition tool.
As you can see, it fits perfectly with the PC-1500/CE-150 system.

What can this do ?
– Digital Multimeter -5V to +5V
– Data logger
– Transient
– Fonctions generator
– Data analyzer
– Regulation/Control unit

How can it communicate ?
– 5 input channels
– 2 analog outputs
– 4 CMOS switch
– 2 output relays
– 24 pol. l / O port
– V.24 interface
– 60 pins connector to PC-1500 or CE-150

It’s a strong tool, isn’t it ? It’s as wide as the CE-150.

The power supply adapter EA-150 is plugged directly in the MC-12A and is transferred to the CE-150 with a grey cable.
A very nice idea !

Removing the CE-150 is not really easy. You have to remove 2 screws and move the printer to separate it.

DO you see the white tube on the metal plate ? It goes directly to a hole under the CE-150.

Here is the CE-150 connector :

Now let’s opening the MC-12A and see inside.
There are some options installed. A really good thing ? All the ICs are on sockets ! Easy repairing…

There is a place on the left with corroded marks. It’s the battery.
The whole system can be used out of 110/220v ! You can take it and go on site.

Let’s open a bit more… there is a RAM and a ROM. Two sockets are unused for future extension.

The ROM IC will give you a really good surprise… stay tuned…

BMC Dr. SCHETTER : industrial acquisition interfaces

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Finding industrial peripherals for the PC-1500 is not really easy now.
But our german friends were the more active around this pocket computer.
I start here a short story about nice items…

This company is BMC Dr. Schetter and build acquisition/control tools for more than 30 years.
I tried manny times to get some help from them but the only answer was… their newsletter.
This company is like a wall and did not answer any of my e-mail.
All informations in my articles are provided without their help ! But it’s not too late…

One of their first product was the MC-12A and was designed to be driven by our favorite pocket computer. It was the most advanced of the catalog.

In fact there was 3 different interfaces :
MC-12A : Full system with batteries and the R.V.S. Forth language on EPROM
MC-12 : A small system without batteries but it can stay in the CE-150 case.
MC-10 : The very small system to connect directly to the PC-1500. (I’m looking for this one ! Do you have one for me ?)

Everyone having user manuals or other informations that may help can contact me.

Sharp CE-158 : a few ones for sale

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I have some of the rare CE-158 for sale.

Description :
– Used item.
– Last hardware version and clean boards.
– New battery pack 720mA/h (directly soldered because the connector was corroded)
– New power adapter 9v 1A, positive outside.
– New RS232C cable 9F/25M as described in my previous article
– Documentation can be downloaded here.
– No metal plates.

Prices :
– ~~With some light marks : 99 euro (must add shipping costs) (4 left)~~
– With some marks or scratches on the cover : 89 euro (must add shipping costs) (3 left)
– ~~With some lot of marks on the cover : 79 euro (must add shipping costs) (0 left)~~

Use the contact form…

Pictures of one with light marks :

Happy new year !

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I wish a happy new year to all my readers and the PC-1500 fans !

Could 2015 be rich in lot of discovery about this fantastic pocket computer.
The PC-1560 team is working on new devices and software for it.
Stay connected…

NANFENG PC-1500A user manual (updated)

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A special thanks to “W” for an incredible information about the NANFENG PC-1500A !
I copy here his message from my Guestbook :

“NANFENG PC-1500 is made by 830 Factory ,Kaili,Guizhou,P.R.C. in a brief honeymoon with U.S.A and Japan to counter CCCP, here is a picture of its manual: “

Thank you again, “W”, to share this information with my readers !

Update : The NANFENG manuals are a set of 3

Sharp CE-158 : Hardware side (Part 4)

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It’s now time to open the box.

The CE-158 is a nice extension with a multi-board construction.
On the bottom there is the main electronic board with the LH5801 multi i/o IC.
On the middle there is the RS-232C interface.
And on the top there is the Centronics interface.
The battery pack is 500mA/h 4,8v.

I know two versions of the CE-158 but don’t know the differences

Here are the Sharp specifications :

Download

And the Service manual :

Download

I have found the connexion cable for 2 CE-158 in a chinese book :

Download

Sharp PC-1500 made in China

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Yes, the Sharp PC-1500 wasn’t only made in Japan but in China too.
Uh… all the parts except the back looks like made in Japan.

Here is this PC-1500 :

And this wouldn’t be complete without the user manual :
(The front cover is self made from a small picture found somewhere on Internet)

Download chinese manual

Sharp CE-158 : Tandy RS-232C interface (Part 3)

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As for the PC-2 Tandy’s choice was to make the difference : RS-232C but but parallel interface.
This was a manner to reduce price.

I don’t know anything about the original packaging but all accessories are same.
The manual is smaller, the keyboard mask adapted to the geometric keyboard.

And the is no difference when connected to the black printer :

Here is the manual :

Next time i will show you the hardware of booth interface versions.
Stay tuned…

Sharp CE-158 : RS-232C and parallel interface (Part 2)

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It’s now time to connect your favorite pocket computer to a big Personal Computer !

First, we have to build the good cable.
CE-158 side it’s a 25 pins male connector.
PC side it’s a 9 pins male connector.

Here is the schematics

Ok ? Now we make the test on a very well known operating system : Windows XP Pro.
(But my version is in french.)

First locate the Hyper Terminal application :

When it opens you’re prompted to name the new connexion.

Choose COM1 as the connexion mode :

And set the parameters and validate :

On the parameters tab click on “ASCII configuration” :

Then check the boxes as on this picture :

Now it’s time to try receiving something from the PC-1500…

Click on “Transfer” menu and on “Capture text” :

And set the filename to CAPTURE.TXT on the primary drive’s root :

Go on the PC-1500 keyboard and type the following program and finish by the CSAVE command:

The lines 10 to 30 are send to the PC trough the CE-158 and you can see the data on the Hyper Terminal screen.
When the CSAVE command disappear from the PC-1500 screen it’s time to stop data recording.

Please control the file C:\CAPTURE.TXT content :

Is it ok ? GOOD ! Close the Hyper Terminal application.
I show you here the hexadecimal content :

Now we have to test data transmission from PC to PC-1500.
Are you ready ?

Open the DOS box and set the COM1 parameters :

If you get an error message then verify that Hyper Terminal is closed.
Otherwise you’ll get the result :

Go to the PC-1500 and update the program to this one and finish by the CLOAD command.

And on the PC side send the CAPTURE.TXT file to the COM port :

Now control on the PC-1500 that the line 20 ends now by CO 😉
Is it ok for you ?

Sharp CE-158 : RS-232C and parallel interface (Part 1)

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The CE-158 extension is the communication tool for the PC-1500 and provide interface to personal computer world.

It comes in a big box.

The CE-158 and accessories are well packaged.

There is :
The CE-158 interface
The EA-21A power adapter with 8,2v output
The user manual (here in the five major languages)
One metal part for connecting directly to the PC-1500(A)
One metal part for connecting to the CE-150 printer and cassette interface
To screws for the metal parts
One keyboard mask.