Parallel Cabling Requirements

The required cable must have a standard 36-pin parallel connector on one end, which is plugged into the mating connector located at the upper rear of the printer. The parallel interface cable is connected using bail clips, instead of screws, in a similar position to that of the serial data cable.

The other end of the parallel interface cable connects to an appropriate point at the host computer.

Data cables must be fully shielded and fitted with metal or metallized connector shells. Shielded cables and connectors are required to prevent radiation and reception of electrical noise.

To minimize electrical noise pickup in the cable:

•Keep data cables as short as possible (maximum length: 10 ft.).

•Do not bundle the data cables tightly with power cords.

•Do not tie data cables to power wire conduits.

Parallel Interface

The Parallel Interface provides a means of communication that is typically faster than the previously mentioned Serial Interface method. In this method, the bits of data which make up a character are sent all at one time over several wires in the cable, one bit per wire.

Data signals are defined as either HIGH or LOW, while Control Signals are either Active or Inactive. Some Control Signals are active HIGH while others are active LOW. The voltage levels which represent these conditions are:

Data Signal

Voltage Level

HIGH

+5 VDC

LOW

0 VDC

Zebra S-Series User’s Guide

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