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One advantage of a galvanic isolator in an instrumentation system is that it allows a single ended device to make true differential measurements. For example normally oscilloscopes measure relative to ground. If you want to measure relative so a different potential you can operate the oscilloscope via an isolating transformer, then you can hook the oscilloscope's ground probe up to the different potential and make measurements relative to it. I'm not sure what this has to do with a zener barrier. Zener barriers exist to prevent the voltage at one point from differing by more than a certain amount from the potential at another point.— Preceding
unsigned comment added by
220.233.81.49 (
talk)
04:37, 26 June 2009 (UTC)reply
I think the term "galvanic isolation" is more specific. It expressly states that the two systems that are isolated still transfer energy and/or information. Technically if you had two totally separate electrical systems I suppose they would be electrically isolated, but I don't know that you'd talk about them as being galvanically isolated (although that description may still be valid). Usually we use it to refer to two systems which are connected, but where DC current can not flow between them.— Preceding
unsigned comment added by
220.233.81.49 (
talk)
04:40, 26 June 2009 (UTC)reply
I am using a document (ISO 16750 part2) which uses the term galvanic isolation to include isolation tests between terminals of a part and its case. There is no transfer of information implied by this isolation. In my understanding, parts that are electrically isolated may still communicate electrically, eg across the plates of a capacitor, but have an isolation to a dc electrical path. Galvanic isolation, however, implies that electrical activity on one area has no influence on another that is isolated from it. Note. There are degrees of isolation in both cases.
Westoby (
talk)
10:55, 18 March 2011 (UTC)reply
There isn't really such a thing, there are symbols for galvanic isolation devices - there are symbols for transformers, capacitors and optocouplers. I'm really not sure where diodes come into it. Two devices connected via a diode (or diodes) are not galvanically isolated! I'm sure if you look at the entries for the aforementioned devices you will find some symbols.— Preceding
unsigned comment added by
220.233.81.49 (
talk)
04:40, 26 June 2009 (UTC)reply
This article is part of WikiProject Electronics, an attempt to provide a standard approach to writing articles about
electronics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you can choose to edit the article attached to this page, or visit the
project page, where you can join the project and see a list of open tasks. Leave messages at the
project talk pageElectronicsWikipedia:WikiProject ElectronicsTemplate:WikiProject Electronicselectronic articles
One advantage of a galvanic isolator in an instrumentation system is that it allows a single ended device to make true differential measurements. For example normally oscilloscopes measure relative to ground. If you want to measure relative so a different potential you can operate the oscilloscope via an isolating transformer, then you can hook the oscilloscope's ground probe up to the different potential and make measurements relative to it. I'm not sure what this has to do with a zener barrier. Zener barriers exist to prevent the voltage at one point from differing by more than a certain amount from the potential at another point.— Preceding
unsigned comment added by
220.233.81.49 (
talk)
04:37, 26 June 2009 (UTC)reply
I think the term "galvanic isolation" is more specific. It expressly states that the two systems that are isolated still transfer energy and/or information. Technically if you had two totally separate electrical systems I suppose they would be electrically isolated, but I don't know that you'd talk about them as being galvanically isolated (although that description may still be valid). Usually we use it to refer to two systems which are connected, but where DC current can not flow between them.— Preceding
unsigned comment added by
220.233.81.49 (
talk)
04:40, 26 June 2009 (UTC)reply
I am using a document (ISO 16750 part2) which uses the term galvanic isolation to include isolation tests between terminals of a part and its case. There is no transfer of information implied by this isolation. In my understanding, parts that are electrically isolated may still communicate electrically, eg across the plates of a capacitor, but have an isolation to a dc electrical path. Galvanic isolation, however, implies that electrical activity on one area has no influence on another that is isolated from it. Note. There are degrees of isolation in both cases.
Westoby (
talk)
10:55, 18 March 2011 (UTC)reply
There isn't really such a thing, there are symbols for galvanic isolation devices - there are symbols for transformers, capacitors and optocouplers. I'm really not sure where diodes come into it. Two devices connected via a diode (or diodes) are not galvanically isolated! I'm sure if you look at the entries for the aforementioned devices you will find some symbols.— Preceding
unsigned comment added by
220.233.81.49 (
talk)
04:40, 26 June 2009 (UTC)reply