# RS232 Shield Input

**URL:** <https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rs232-shield-input/30881>\
**Category:** Arduino\
**Created:** [May 11, 2015, 1:00pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rs232-shield-input/30881 "2015-05-11T13:00:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kuro07](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@Kuro07](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Kuro07)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 1:00pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rs232-shield-input/30881/1 "2015-05-11T13:00:22Z")

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Hello Everyone,

I am new here and want to ask some questions regarding this product and the arduino. [https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13029](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13029)

1. Can this product be used as an input for the arduino rs232 interface? Not as an output.

2. If yes, How?

Now for the reason why I asked this question.

We need to use a bill acceptor/validator with our school thesis project and we want to be able to reject bills if we want to. I contacted the manufacturer and they gave me an API which uses the rs232 protocol to be able to use that API. How can i use the arduino to interface with that API in order for me to be able to control the bill acceptor/validator to reject bills if needed. I can send the API to anyone who is interested on seeing it.

Thanks and Best Regards.

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**Author:** ![DanV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@DanV](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/DanV)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rs232-shield-input/30881/2 "2015-05-11T19:57:05Z")

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I think you need to take baby steps - first, use hyperterminal or similar terminal program and send / receive to the Arduino device programmed to send responses back to you. Getting the communication going is crucial to the success of your project.

Google will reveal many hundreds of ‘arduino serial communications’ examples / tutorials, etc…

[http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/SoftwareSerialExample](http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/SoftwareSerialExample)

So, in answer to your question, yes, it can be used for your purpose and most likely with the API.

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**Author:** ![Kuro07](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@Kuro07](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Kuro07)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rs232-shield-input/30881/3 "2015-05-11T20:16:17Z")

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How does one exactly use it? Do I just plug in the cable into the the shield directly and it should work?

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**Author:** ![DanV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@DanV](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/DanV)\
**Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 8:33pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rs232-shield-input/30881/4 "2015-05-11T20:33:44Z")

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As previously stated, there are hundreds of examples / tutorials, etc. Just use Google.

Not sure anybody here is going to do your project for you.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYWCkdrCUKg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYWCkdrCUKg)

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**Author:** ![Kuro07](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@Kuro07](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/Kuro07)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2015, 8:10am UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/rs232-shield-input/30881/5 "2015-05-12T08:10:23Z")

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Ok thanks and I wasn’t asking for anyone to do it for me. I was just asking on pointers how to.