Electric vs. Optical isolation on DMX equipment

[Sebastian Holmbom]

Hello!

 

I have a little question about DMX splitters I have one that is optical isolated and one that is elecrical isolated and have to ask

what is the different between those two?

 

Anyone with a little more information?

 

Best Regards

[timsabre]

Hello!

 

I have a little question about DMX splitters I have one that is optical isolated and one that is elecrical isolated and have to ask

what is the different between those two?

 

Anyone with a little more information?

 

Best Regards

 

It's the same thing, just a different way of saying it.

 

Optical isolation is just one method of electrical isolation, using light to transfer the data (another way is transformer isolation).

[Sebastian Holmbom]

Hello!

 

I have a little question about DMX splitters I have one that is optical isolated and one that is elecrical isolated and have to ask

what is the different between those two?

 

Anyone with a little more information?

 

Best Regards

 

It's the same thing, just a different way of saying it.

 

Optical isolation is just one method of electrical isolation, using light to transfer the data (another way is transformer isolation).

 

So what is transformer isolation different from the others? Wich is the best?

[Tomo]

So what is transformer isolation different from the others? Wich is the best?

Depends what you're doing.

 

Transformer isolation means using a transformer to isolate the signal internally. It's usually wound 1:1 so the same signal comes out as went in. (Ignoring the phase shift)

- This is primarily an analog technique, and generally quite poor for digital signals.

 

Optical isolation means using a lamp and photodiode to isolate the signal.

- This is primarily a digital technique, and generally quite poor for analog signals.

[boatman]

The DMX data rate is 250kBaud so optical isolation is going to work, whereas transformer isolation may not. Both methods provide galvanic isolation between the source and the destination, but you'll probably find that both your DMX splitters actually have optical isolators inside.