[Gmecm] Cable question from newbie..

[LaRose, Brian larose@atl.hp.com]

Friends,

   I'm new to the group and eager to monitor and one day tune my
racecar.  I will be purchasing a cable in the next few days and I'm
curious.  The cables at aldlcable.com  seem to have a cigarette power
connection.   Since I have a power inverter for my laptop, my laptop
will already have power.  

What is the purpose of the power connector?  Does the ECM need a power
feed in order to dump data?  Is this for the laptop?  OR?? I would just
expect a cable to go from 9-Pin DIN to the ALDL connection STRAIGHT to
the 10 ohm resistor, etc..

RS232 doesn't need power if both devices are powered, does the small
micro-board adaptor need power?

Thoughts?

brian 
1987 IROC Z28, 5.0L TPI
http://www.bowtieracing.org