Vernier Tech Info Library TIL #405

Question

Can I use a PASCO motion detector with the LabQuest, LabPro, CBL, or ULI interfaces?

Answer

PASCO's Motion Sensor II comes with a swivel removeable cable and was sold in the following versions:

If you have a LabPro/CBL2 or CBL, order CI-6744-051
If you have a ULI II, order CI-6745-051

If you already have a Pasco Motion Sesnor II with removable cable, it can be connected to a LabPro, CBL, or CBL 2 using a Motion Detector to LabQuest/LabPro/CBL Cable, order code MDC-BTD, $5.00. To use the Pasco Motion Sensor II with a ULI you need a Cable Motion Detector to ULI, order code ULI-MDC, $5.00.

PASCO's motion detector is not compatible with the LabQuest due to hardware conflicts.

Note: New models of the Pasco Motion Sensor (as of January 2008) no longer have a removable cable and can not be used with Vernier interfaces. No Pasco motion detector is compatible with the LabQuest due to hardware conflicts.

Some Pasco Motion Sensor II units will not Auto ID. For a period of time, Pasco made the Motion Sensor II without the resistor-based ID used by LabPro. The sensor will still work, but it will not automatically identify itself. To bypass this problem, you will need to use an experiment file that is already configured to use a motion detector. The Pasco unit may also tick contuously betweeen data collection runs. To turn this off, disable live readouts. (In Logger Pro preferences, uncheck "Enable Motion Detector Live Readouts").

PASCO's older motion detector does not have a removeable cable. To use it with our interfaces, you would have to make and adapter or cut off the cables and add a BTD cable. To convert your sensor, do the following:

Connect BTD pin 1 (echo) to the middle of the stereo phone plug without the band.
Connect BTD pin 2 (init) to the middle of the stereo phone plug with the band.
Connect BTD pin 4 (+5V) to the tip of the stereo phone plug without the band.
Connect BTD pin 5 (GND) to the base of the stereo phone plug with the band.

Created by: dvernier on September 02 1997
Last updated by: gastineau on June 23 2009