Protect Your Assets With Optical Isolators and Surge Protectors
Protect Your Assets With Optical Isolators and Surge Protectors
The world of data communication is busy, even noisy. Industrial
communication systems, such as balanced RS-485 / RS-422, often require
transmission between multiple devices over long distances. While having
many devices communicating with each other on the same twisted-pair
cable is robust and cost-effective, it also introduces two major
challenges:
There are a few methods of voltage and current surge protection in the industry, and the most effective are Optical Isolators and Surge Protectors:
Optical Isolators
An optical isolator (or opto-isolator) is used to block high voltages and transients so that a surge in one part of the system will not disrupt or destroy other parts. Optical isolation uses an LED (Light Emitting Device) and a photosensitive transistor to transfer data across the isolation barrier - typically an air gap; in other words, data is transmitted using light instead of electrical signals, so there is no physical connections between the grounds and the data lines, thus removing the ground loop problems and effectively preventing electrical surges and spikes from destroying other parts of the system. Furthermore, because optical isolation uses light to transmit data across the isolation barrier, it also gains the advantage of immunity from electrical- and magnetic-field interference. This makes optical isolation an effective solution in industrial areas where strong electric or magnetic fields could be present.
Surge Protectors
The main function of a surge protector is to limit the voltage introduced to an electrical device by either blocking or shorting to ground any voltages above a safe threshold. Surge protectors are mainly used for protecting power and data lines against electrical surges and spikes, including those caused by lightning. However, it is important to note that solely relying on surge protectors could be insufficient or even do more damage than good, as in the cases of improperly installed or poorly selected surge protectors. In many applications, surge protectors are used in conjunction with optical isolators to provide much more effective protection.
- Because of the long distances and the surrounding electrical devices/equipment, RS-485 / RS-422 networks are often exposed to electrical noises, remote lightning, and line surges, which can cause transient voltage to run across the serial communication system and the valuable equipment.
- Because multiple devices (nodes) are connected, the ground potential at different nodes could be different, which can cause ground currents to flow through "the path of least resistance" via either the common earth ground or the ground wire.
There are a few methods of voltage and current surge protection in the industry, and the most effective are Optical Isolators and Surge Protectors:
Optical Isolators
An optical isolator (or opto-isolator) is used to block high voltages and transients so that a surge in one part of the system will not disrupt or destroy other parts. Optical isolation uses an LED (Light Emitting Device) and a photosensitive transistor to transfer data across the isolation barrier - typically an air gap; in other words, data is transmitted using light instead of electrical signals, so there is no physical connections between the grounds and the data lines, thus removing the ground loop problems and effectively preventing electrical surges and spikes from destroying other parts of the system. Furthermore, because optical isolation uses light to transmit data across the isolation barrier, it also gains the advantage of immunity from electrical- and magnetic-field interference. This makes optical isolation an effective solution in industrial areas where strong electric or magnetic fields could be present.
Surge Protectors
The main function of a surge protector is to limit the voltage introduced to an electrical device by either blocking or shorting to ground any voltages above a safe threshold. Surge protectors are mainly used for protecting power and data lines against electrical surges and spikes, including those caused by lightning. However, it is important to note that solely relying on surge protectors could be insufficient or even do more damage than good, as in the cases of improperly installed or poorly selected surge protectors. In many applications, surge protectors are used in conjunction with optical isolators to provide much more effective protection.
From 3-wire to 7-wire RS232 isolators, 2-wire RS485 to 4-wire
RS422 isolators, RS232 / RS485 / RS422 / Ethernet surge protectors, and
USB isolators to USB / RS232 / RS485 / RS422 isolators, CommFront has
all the devices to protect your assets from unexpected events. See our
complete range of the isolators and surge protectors products.
For the past decade, CommFront has built a reputation as a major supplier of rugged and reliable, yet simple, data communication products and solutions including industry-proven serial / USB / fiber optic converters. To find out more about us, visit CommFront official website.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ashiel_Grey/2296186
For the past decade, CommFront has built a reputation as a major supplier of rugged and reliable, yet simple, data communication products and solutions including industry-proven serial / USB / fiber optic converters. To find out more about us, visit CommFront official website.
