I have a cable with 3 wires, the red, the white and the black. If I want to activate one function of the connected device (using the mentioned cable) I have to short red and black. If I want to activate the second function I have to short white and black.
As to when a certain function needs to be activated I need to read in a pulse, which I have no problem doing.
How should I connect the cable with the three wires in the Output Pins?
Any help will be greaty appreciated...
Sincere regards.
Before you connect anything to an Arduino you need to measure the voltage (if any) between the wires. Anything over 5 volts will damage the Arduino (or over 3.3v if it is a 3.3v version).
It would help if you explain what is on the other end of the cable.
The second image will explain the circuit and the voltage levels.
Actually I want to mainly control the shutter of a Canon camera by shorting black and red wire. I am not that interested about the yellow wire (which it is used to focus), if I have to choose.
It's a long time since I played with the N3 connector but I have a vague memory that you can't ignore the yellow (focus) wire. On the RS-80N3 remote, when you half-press the button it makes contact with the focus (yellow). When you push it all the way down, it also makes contact with the black wire which takes the shot. I think you have to set the focus and keep it on and then set the black one. Then switch both off.
When I made an interface, I took an RS-80N3 remote apart and wired in a stereo jack so that it was easy to connect to. I used opto-isolators for the connections between the processor and the camera.
This web-page (in French) has a circuit diagram of the opto-isolator connections and photos of the RS-80N3 added wiring.
Ok
Thank a lot Pete. I was under the same impression, that I need both the shutter and the focus.
Some people are mentioning that using only the shutter function, the camera locks (or stops working) after 15 shots and they had to turn the camera on and and off to become functional again.
I will update any progress.
A quick question though.
Is there any shield for the micro that includes optoisolators, or have similiar functionality, or will I have to make my own?
What about using the Arduino to control two small transistors acting as switches?
From your original Post I don't see any need for opto-isolators. They are usually only needed if the Arduino needs to sense something and I don't get the impression that is needed in this case. I think it will be sufficient for it blindly to turn the switches on or off.
Well that is true, but I prefer to be safe than sorry. On the other end will be some expensive equipment, and the environment in which this configuration will work has a lot of external interference.
I want to take every possible measure to ensure that all of my equipment won't get damaged.
Furthermore in the transistor's case, voltage is required between the collector and the emitter therefore this voltage will propagate down to the camera. In my case I only need to short the wires.
These are my thougths currently.
Please collaborate - elaborate, or correct me if I am wrong.
You could use a relay which would do nothing more than short the wires when its contacts close. If you use an electromechanical relay you will need a transistor between the Arduino and the relay coil as the Arduino cannot provide enough current for the coil.
