Talk:Galvanic isolation

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Applications

What is application of galvanic isolator in instrumentation and measurement systems? how these related to zener barrier?— Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.185.229.49 (talk) 05:58, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

draw a sample circuit diagram.— Preceding unsigned comment added by Masoud205 (talk • contribs) 06:33, 5 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

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]

Electrical isolation versus galvanic isolation

Does anyone know if there is a technical difference between: "electrical isolation" and "galvanic isolation"? Thanks.— Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.170.4.146 (talk) 23:09, 8 January 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]

Diagram

Would be good to get a schematic diagram of the circuit inside a galvanic isolator (a series of diodes I gather). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.192.57.160 (talk) 21:27, 11 January 2009 (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]

Relays should be mentioned!

Relays are one of the commonest ways of providing galvanic isolation and deserve their own little section here! KrisBlueNZ (talk) 08:39, 27 January 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Done. ^{Talk to} SageGreenRider 17:22, 28 March 2019 (UTC)[reply]