Economatics Smart Box

Place holder page. Much, much much more information to follow.

Background Information

There are a number of different models of Smart Box.

  • The Smart Box (SB01) – the original Smart Box
  • The Smart Box “ev” (????) – an enhanced version with battery backed RAM (allowing you to program the box with Smart Move, then move it to a different location, plug it in, and resume running your program).
  • The Smart Box (SB04) – a modernised version using a microcontroller instead of the 6502 used in previous versions. This box has reduced functionality, and I’ve also struggled to get the serial communication to work in some edge cases, such as when adapting from RS422 to RS232.
  • The Smart Box Discovery – This version has a display and a parallel port, but reduced I/O.

There may be others, I need to check my notes.

SmartBoxes
Some of the Smart Boxes Made

Analogue Sensors

A number of sensors could be purchased for the Smart Box. See here, here and here for some background. From the second link, there is a lot of detailed technical information. I’ve been meaning to move it over here to my website for several years, but keep forgetting. Sorry!

Here are some photos, some from stardot, and some from a sensor I own.

1v Input – Thanks to MPH1708 on Stardot for the photos.

A Sound Sensor – My Own.

Major components include…

  • A 4053 analogue multiplexor for switching between the ID and the sensor.
  • An LM358N dual op amp in the sound level sensor.
  • A TLC271 op amp in the 1v input box.
  • A BC547 transistor in the sound level sensor.

A larger collection of photos taken to show various component part numbers and values can be downloaded here.

While I have a small number of sensors, sadly most of them have been potted with a silicone like substance. It doesn’t seem to soften in IPA like some similar substances and without a good way of removing it, I’m not willing to use force.

Potted Light Sensor.