Thunderbolt Monitor Kit Manual v5.0.6
Page 2
3/8/2020
Operation of the kit is automatic. However the kit can be configured in several different
ways to make operation more convenient depending on user preferences. Configuration
is done through a menu of options, activated and operated through two push-button
switches. No configuration is required to get the kit up and running.
The kit operates at 9600 bauds with 8 data bits, one stop bit and no parity over the
Trimble TSIP binary protocol. This is the default configuration for the Trimble
Thunderbolt. NMEA format is not supported.
Attention:
The kit contains semiconductors that can be damaged by static electricity and excessive
voltages. Safe static electricity practices shall be observed while wiring or using the kit.
Particular care should be exercised to never apply voltages outside the range of 0 to
+5VDC (with respect to the power supply return) on any exposed part, trace or
conductor, including J2, J3, J4, J5 and J6.
The supply voltage on J1 shall never exceed 16VDC.
The voltage on the PPS input shall not exceed the supply voltage.
The RS-232 connections on J1 are safe with voltages up to +/- 15VDC regardless of
supply voltage.
Requirements:
The kit requires a 6-12V DC @ ~50mA average current to operate (without WiFi option).
A 100mA capable supply is recommended. Fine regulation or low ripple are not
necessary or even advantageous, as long as voltage excursions do not exceed the
specified range. A 500mA supply not exceeding 9V is recommended when the WiFi
option is installed. While the WiFi module’s average current consumption is very low
(about 12mA), it draws high current peaks when transmitting, so a 500mA rated supply
with sufficient filtering capacitors is recommended when the WiFi module is installed.
Essential connections to the Thunderbolt are made through a row of screw terminals J1.
If the WiFi module is not installed, the kit needs only two connections to the
Thunderbolt’s serial port: Ground (pin 5) to J1-1 and Tx Data (pin 2) to J1-2. If the WiFi
module is used, a third connection is required to the Rx Data line (pin 3) to J1-3.
If the WiFi module is not installed, the kit can be wired in parallel to a direct RS-232
connection between the Thunderbolt and a PC for other uses such as running Mark
Sims/John Miles’ Lady Heather [1] or Trimble’s tboltmon.exe [2] utility.
The Lady Heather software regularly sends commands to the Thunderbolt (several
commands each second), so when the WiFi option is used, the kit shall be wired with
both Tx and Rx data to the Thunderbolt and it will not be possible to have a second
serial port connected in parallel.
