Product category:
Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications
News Release from: B and B Electronics Manufacturing Company | Subject: I-linx series
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 08 September 2006
Data convertors include superior optical
isolation
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 Optical isolation works by converting a voltage signal to an optical signal which passes through a fibre optic section before being converted back to a voltage signal
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 25 Nov 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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This process isolates any voltage anomalies from the protected equipment.
Mike Fahrion, Director of Engineering for B and B Electronics in Ottawa, Illinois says: "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 convertor with optical isolation, can stop those damaging spikes and surges in their tracks".
B and B Electronics has introduced the expanded I-linx series of premium industrial data convertors and other data products that include superior optical isolation.
New I-linx serial convertors with superior isolation change RS232 format data signals to RS422 for increased range, or RS485 for increased range and multidrop capability.
I-linx stand-alone optical isolators in industrial DIN rail mount cases and 2000V protection are now available for RS232 and RS422/485 data circuits.
Fibre optic data transmission provides intrinsic optical isolation.
B and B offers their Model FOSTCDRI that converts RS232, RS422 or RS485 to transmit over fibre optic cable.
Fibre optic cable also allows range to be increased up to 4km.
A multidrop arrangement can easily be set up, allowing one serial device to talk to multiple slave devices around a fibre 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 convertors and isolators is now available from B and B Electronics.
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