Optical isolation – the need for an industrial grade system
In a wired up network of sensors and actuators, induced and stray voltages due to surges are significant. Optical isolation with independent, isolated power supply is a must for safe operation. Webyfy has created multichannel digital, analog, serial optical isolation input modules and also for isolating outputs.
The possibility to experience real life field conditions is very remote, when a laboratory experiment is carried out with multiple sensors connected to a data collation device. In field conditions, the performance will be seriously affected due to induced voltages and surges. This will damage the boards that are working on low voltage levels and give rise to erroneous readings.
Stray voltage may be emanated by AC equipment operating nearby or due to the presence of arcing in the power supply circuit. All these can adversely affect.
Though many methods are available to isolate stray voltages, optical isolation is the best as it provides isolation of over 5 KV and also acts as a physical barrier between the input for the senor and the processing circuit.
Webyfy has created generic optical isolation boards for optically isolating various kinds of I/Os. The images show a 7 channel digital input isolation board and a 14 channel analog input isolation board. Webyfy has developed serial data isolation boards and digital output isolation boards.
All the above boards are generic in nature and can be used for multiple applications. Separate power supplies are required for both sides of the isolated systems.