J2 680 System Manual
Version 1.0 May 11, 2012
Serial ports
The 680 has four external RS232 serial ports, all of which can be powered. The serial
ports are standard RS-232 ports with a DB9 male connector. The serial ports, in a normal
configuration, are mapped to COM 1-4.
There also four internal serial ports one of which is used for the resistive touch controller
and the other are reserved for other internal options.
COM ports 1-4 can supply power to an external device when required, like the optional
J2 Customer Display. COM 1 can supply +5 volt and COM 2-4 supply +12 volts. The
voltage is supplied on pin 9 (RI) of the DB9 connector. The maximum current is 1000ma
and is over-current protected. A BIOS setting is used to enable the voltage on each port.
J2 does not normally recommend using the +5 volt option on COM 1 and is only there for
some legacy devices. The problem is it easy for +5 volt device to be plugged into a +12
enable serial port by mistake which will burn out the +5 volt device. A good alternative
to powering a +5 volt serial device, or any +5V device would be to use power from an
unused USB port. Cables for this are readily available (see below).
DB9 pin out serial ports Serial Port
USB to +5V cable