Don't allow rogue currents to garble messages or damage equipment
Optical Isolation works by converting a voltage signal to an optical signal which passes through an fiber optic section before being converted back to a voltage signal.This process isolates any voltage anomalies from the protected equipment. Mike Fahrion, Director of Engineering for B&B Electronics in Ottawa, Illinois said,"Optical isolation can now be considered a requirement for commercial and industrial data communication. Spikes and surges on the data line can create havoc in industrial applications. If you get a surge in the home or office, you may have to reboot, which is an inconvenience. But the same surge in a computer controlled industrial application can shut down an assembly line or an entire plant. That's a disaster. Adding optical isolation, either with a stand-alone isolator or a converter with optical isolation, can stop those damaging spikes and surges in their tracks." B&B Electronics has introduced the expanded I-linx series of premium industrial data converters and other data products that include superior optical isolation. New I-linx serial converters with superior isolation change RS-232 format data signals to RS-422 for increased range, or RS-485 for increased range and multi-drop capability. I-linx stand-alone optical isolators in industrial DIN rail mount cases and 2000 V protection are now available for RS-232 and RS-422/485 data circuits. Fiber optic data transmission provides intrinsic optical isolation. B&B offers their Model FOSTCDRI that converts RS- 232, RS-422, or RS-485 to transmit over fiber optic cable. Fiber optic cable also allows range to be increased up to 2.5 miles (4 km). A multi-drop arrangement can easily be set up, allowing one serial device to talk to multiple slave devices around a fiber ring. All I-linx devices are in DIN rail mount cases and made rugged for industrial applications. The new I-linx line of optically
isolated converters and isolators is now available from B&B Electronics. Visit their website at www.bb-elec.com or drop a
note to B&B Electronics, 707 Dayton Rd., Ottawa, IL 61350 for a catalog. #########
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Tame rogue data line signals that can garble a message or damage electronic
components by inserting an optical isolator in the data line. Rogue currents can have
many causes, from exposure to a minor power surge in a nearby electrical circuit to a
lightning strike in the vicinity.
