Specifications

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G. Personal Computer Connector (USB B-Type Connector)
Next to the AC power port is the USB B-type connector used to connect the Bloodhound to a Personal
Computer. If planning to use the USB B connector to connect to a PC, you must load the USB to Serial Driver
first. It can be found at www.iballinst.com. This driver configures the USB computer connection to the
Bloodhound as if it was a serial port. Normally, the USB driver puts the serial connection on COM 3 but not
always. This is a common USB to Serial adapter driver. When connected through the USB driver, the Serial
parameters are still 115200 Baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and no parity (8N1). The Bloodhound charting
software will scan all available serial ports and find the Bloodhound. Therefore, knowing which serial port
number is not an issue when using the iBall Instruments Gas Charting software. This USB serial driver is
found on the USB key drive on the faceplate of the Bloodhound.
H. 10 Pin Pason RS 422 Serial WITS Connector
In order to communicate to the Pason Electronic Drilling Recorder (EDR) system without the hassle of any
external hardware, iBall has incorporated a Pason RS422 connection interface into the Bloodhound. This
allows for direct connection to the Pason EDR system to obtain duplex WITS communication. Generally, no
user intervention is necessary on the Bloodhound to access the Pason WITS information when using this
connection. After connecting the 10 pin round military type cabling to the Bloodhound from the Pason EDR
system, the Bloodhound automatically establishes communicates to the Pason system and starts acquiring
and sending WITS data.
NOTE: On sites with a Pason EDR system, just because the Pason cable can fit into a connector found on the
site does not mean that the connection will work. Pason advises to always connect the Bloodhound to the
“Toolpush” Connection Panel on the outside of the Rig Manager’s trailer, or, if that is not present, then to the
“Toolpush” Computer itself via one of the cables attached to it. (In the event that Pason does not have
somewhere to mount the “Toolpush” Connection Panel, they leave cables extending outside of the Rig
Manager’s trailer with the RS422 connectors accessible. In that case, they are simply cable ends, so are not
labelled.) Always connecting to the “Toolpush” Connection Panel or the “Toolpush” Computer will ensure that
the proper connection is made and the TPC will not require any configuration change to receive WITS.
I. 9 Pin Male WITS Interface
If the drilling rig has a TOTCO, EPOCH or other like drilling system, then the communications to the drilling
computer will come from a different source. If connecting to a TOTCO system, A TOTCO technician must
come to the drilling site and hook up a secondary computer. This computer talks to the rig and makes
available the WITS information through a 9 pin null modem cable to the Bloodhound’s 9 pin WITS port. If
connecting to an EPOCH system, the WITS data comes from a box called a Device Extender. The Device
Extender allows for depth pulses, pump pulses, and on bottom marking. It also has serial ports for WITS data.
Connect the Bloodhound 9 pin male WITS connector through a null modem cable to this EPOCH system,
COM 1. Almost all drilling rigs that have computer monitoring systems have a WITS serial interface of some
kind.
If the connection to the Bloodhound 9 pin male WITS interface is made from the male 9 pin serial port of an
external computer, then a null modem Female to Female cable will be mandatory.
J. 9 Pin Female Serial PC Port
The 9 pin female serial port allows for connections to the host computer system. This connector shares a
common communication bus as the USB B connector described above. If the user is using the USB B
connector to connect to a PC, then serial data will still come out of this connector, but the Bloodhound will not
be able to hear data coming in from this port. This makes this port a handy output to a data logger when using
the USB B connector to go to a PC. The Serial parameters are 115200 Baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and no
parity (8N1). The Gas Chart software will scan all available serial ports and find the Bloodhound, so knowing
the serial port number is not an issue when using the charting software.
If connecting this the 9 pin female connector from the Bloodhound to a 9 pin male serial port on an external
computer, then a standard 9 pin male to 9 pin female cable will be mandatory.