Experiment 1: The Serial Interface

ECE513L 1st Term, A.Y. 2016 – 2017

Antoni Martiniano A. Acuzar, Clarence Daniel M. Alipor, Krizza Carmella G. Berden, Gennie Mari P. Brul, Alsace
Nicole R. Cablar
Group 1, Section 5ECE-E, Electronics Engineering (ECE) Department
Faculty of Engineering, University of Santo Tomas (UST), Manila, Philippines
antoni.acuzar@yahoo.com, danielalipor@yahoo.com, Krizzacarmella@yahoo.com, gbrul1011@gmail.com,
cablaralsac@gmail.com,

OBSERVATIONS
Abstract—The summary of this experiment is to introduce
the students to Serial Interface as well as the RS 232 interface. Table 3.1 Cable Wire Map
The students identified the pin configurations of the cable used
for direct serial communication and identified the voltages DCE Cable DTE Cable
with respect to the ground pin on the cables.

Index terms - RS 232, DTE, DCE DCE (DB 25 DCE (DB 9 DCE (DB 25 DCE (DB 9
Female) pin Female) pin Male) pin Female) pin
OBJECTIVES no. no. no. no.

● To introduce students to serial communications port 1 1

and the interface used for serial data transfer between
computers. 2 3 2 3
● To be able to identify the pin configurations of cable
used for direct serial communications. 3 2 3 2

THEORY 4 7 4 7

5 8 5 8
In Data communications, RS 232 is a generic term for RS 232c,
an EIA Standard interface for connecting two pieces of data 6 6 6 6
communications equipment together. Positive voltage for binary 0
is space or ON while negative voltage for binary 1 is mark or OFF. 7 5 7 5
The transmit signals are greater than 5 volts and less than 15 volts
into 3K ohms to 7k ohms. Receive signals are to be greater than 3
8 1 8 1
volts with a termination between 3k ohms to 7k ohms. The
maximum voltage of the cable is 25 volts and the maximum rate of
9 9
change is 30v/ microseconds.

Transmit and Receive data, Request to Send and Clear to send 10 10

flow control and protective and signal grounds are what consists of
the interface of the signal. The maximum length of the cable 11 11
should only be 50' unless an amplifier is used to boost the signals.
When reading serial pins of male and female cables, it must be 12 12
remembered that serial pins of male is read from left to right while
the female serial pins are read from right to left. A breakout box is 13 13
used for testing pin configurations and voltages between the serial
pins. 14 14

15 15

16 16

17 17

1
18 18 20 -9.937 20 -9.936

19 19 21 -3.600 21 -3.576

20 4 20 4 22 -3.645 22 -3.603

21 21 23 -3.603 23 -3.579

22 22 24 -3.599 24 -3.587

23 23 25 -3.602 25 -3.598

24 24

25 25 TABLE 1.3 BREAKOUT BOX STATUSES

DTE SIDE DCE SIDE

TABLE 3.2 VOLTAGE MEASUREMENTS

PINS DTE VOLTAGE (V) PINS DCE VOLTAGE (V) PINS GREEN RED PINS GREEN RED
SIDE SIDE 1 1

1 -3.612 1 -3.607 2 2
✓ ✓
2 -9.934 2 -9.936
3 ✓ 3
3 -1.731 3 -1.697 ✓
4 4
4 -9.935 4 -9.936 ✓ ✓
5 -1.729 5 -1.695 5 ✓ 5 ✓

6 -1.729 6 -1.695 6 ✓ 6 ✓
7 SIGNAL 7 SIGNAL 7 ✓ 7 ✓
GROUND GROUND
8 8
8 -1.709 8 -1.671 ✓ ✓
9 9
9 -3.620 9 -3.577

10 -3.620 10 -3.581 10 10

11 -3.620 11 -3.581 11 11

12 -3.620 12 -3.637 12 12

13 -3.620 13 -3.578 13 13

14 -3.620 14 -3.579 14 14

15 -3.620 15 -3.578 15 15
16 -3.620 16 -3.581
16 16
17 -3.640 17 -3.575
17 17
18 -3.600 18 -3.598
18 18
19 -3.605 19 -3.580

2
 19 19

20 20
✓ ✓
21 21

22 22

23 23

24 24

25 25

ANALYSIS
In table 3.1, it shows that there is continuity on several
pins on both the DTE and DCE side. It shows that the connected
pins are the same on both the DTE and DCE cable. DB 25 pin
numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 20 tested positive on the
continuity testing on DB 9 pins 3, 2, 7, 8, 6, 5, 1 and 4 respectively.
It is the same for both the DTE and DCE cable.

In table 3.2 the voltage of each DTE and DCE pins with
respect to ground is measured. Pin 7 is the designated signal
ground. Based on the student's measurements all of the
measured voltages are negative. The most common voltage
measured is -3.620 volts on both the DTE and DCE cables. The
range of the measured voltage is from -1 volt to -10 volts.

In table 3.3 the active or ON status of the pins on both

the DTE and DCE sides is determined. The On state on the green
side on both the DTE and DCE cable are pins 2,4 and 20. The On
state on the red side of both the DTE and DCE cable are pins 3, 5,
6, 7, and 8.

CONCLUSION
The students became familiar with the serial interface
as well as the RS 232 cable and the DCE and DTE cables. The
students also became familiar with operating with the breakout
box and familiarized themselves with the operation. Negative
voltages measured indicated logic 1 which is a property of RS 232.
In terms of the continuity test, the students observed that not all
pins are used and connected. It is also observed that the voltages
and the active-On state of the green and red lights are connected.
There is a corresponding voltage when a green or red state is ON
or active on a specific pin.