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Tech>Cash Drawer FAQ>MS Series Serial

MS Series RS232 (Serial) Cash Drawer - Setup Information

• How do I drive the cash drawer from my PC /POS terminal?
• Connections
• Serial communication parameters
• Baud rate
• Opening the drawer
• Using the drawer status signal
• DIP switch settings
• Serial interface pin assignments
• Troubleshooting
• Utility programs for use with RS232 drawer

How do I drive the cash drawer from my PC /POS terminal?

• The cash drawer can be opened by simply sending a string of characters to the serial port to which the cash drawer is connected. Always ensure that the COM port has been initialised to the communication parameters matching the drawer before sending the string (the default is 1200 baud, no parity, 8 data bits and 1 stop bit)

Connections

• The cash drawer is supplied fitted with a standard 9-pin D-Type female plug for direct connection to a serial port.

Serial communication parameters

• Before being able to open the drawer the serial port parameters must be set. The recommended baud rate is 1200 baud. This can be set by communication library functions from within a program or by using the DOS MODE command.
  e.g. MODE COM2: 1200,n,8,1
  assuming the drawer is connected to COM2
  

Baud rate

• The recommended baud rate is 1200. If you are using a slow baud rate (110) the high noise filter may reject the opening characters as noise. In this case try disabling the noise filter (SW3 on, SW4 off) or use a higher baud rate.

Opening the drawer

• In order to open the drawer a set of any characters should be sent to the serial port to which the drawer is connected. As a guide a string of 5 characters should be sufficient to ensure the opening of the drawer.

Using the drawer status signal

• The drawer status signal can be read by software as the Ring Indicator (RI). The signal is high (+12v DC) when the drawer is open and low (earth) when the drawer is closed.

DIP switch settings

• There are four configuration switches visible at the rear of the cash drawer. The ON direction is marked on the switch by an arrow. The factory settings are correct for most installations.
  

Serial interface pin assignments

• The pins in the drawer cable are connected as follows:

Troubleshooting

• Ensure that the drawer is plugged into the correct port.
• Check the DIP switches.
• Ensure the centre drawer lock is unlocked.
• Try opening the cash drawer from DOS by connecting the cash drawer to COM2 and entering the following commands:
  MODE COM2:1200,n,8,1
  ECHO 12345 > COM2:
  Restart your computer after carrying out this test.
  
• Try connecting the cash drawer to another serial port, repeat the opening test.
• Try sending more than five characters (the 12345) to the serial port to which the cash drawer is connected.
• Try disabling the filter in case the trigger signal is weak - SW3 on and SW4 off.
• Some PCs and software turn off the RTS line of the serial interface between drawer openings, thus not allowing the capacitors to charge. In this case a software program to keep RTS high is available or a permanently powered serial card or power supply.
• Try setting terminal mode - SW2 on and SW1 off. Reset to standard settings if the drawer does not open.

Utility programs for use with RS232 drawer