Page 1

Toptech Optical Isolator - Technical Bulletin #1017

Board Version #3
Product Overview

Purpose of the Toptech Optical Isolator Board

The Toptech Optical Isolator board protects the TMS computer from damage by electrically isolating field devices from the
computer. To that end, the field-side interface is isolated from the computer side interface with 2500V separation between the
communication signals and 4000V isolation between the dc power. Multiple field protocols are converted to RS-232 signals. One
board can be wired and configured for all field protocol conversion options: RS-232, RS-485 2-wire, and RS-485 4-wire.

Field
Side

Signal Out
LED’s

Baud Selection

Signal In
LED’s
12-30 VDC
Power Source

Comm

N/C

Computer
Side

Benefits of Board Revision #3

· More robust protection against lightning
· Onboard isolation eliminates need for dual, isolated power supplies
· Reduced emissions
· RS-232 or RS-485 is selectable by choice of terminal block
· 2-wire RS-485 baud select
· 2-wire/4-wire RS-485 mode is selectable via DIP switches
· DIN rail mount option
· Universal replacement for all other Optical Isolator Boards
° For use with all protocols: RS-232, RS-485 4-wire, RS-485 2-wire

USA Europe
Toptech 280 Hunt Park Cove 6 Longwood, Florida 32750 Nieuwe Weg 1, 2070 Zwijndrecht (Antwerp), Belgium
Systems
Toptech Phone: +1 407-332-1774 6 Fax: +1 407-332-1802 Phone: +32 (0)3 250 6060 6 Fax: +32 (0)3 250 6061
Systems, Inc. www.toptech.com www.toptecheurope.com
DOC-MKT-Optical-Iso-BR3-REV1
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Toptech Optical Isolator - Technical Bulletin #1017

Board Version #3
Product Overview

Technical Overview

The optical isolator is designed to be resistant to electromagnetic threats typically present in a heavy industrial environment.
Lightning is perhaps the most severe of these threats. Another type of line disturbance is known as Electrical Fast Transients
(EFTs). While lacking the energy and much of the destructive power of surges, these EFT signals can potentially cause disruption
in the form of data transmission corruption and possible memory loss. The presence of radios and other handheld transmitters
also places unwanted radio frequency signals into the environment. Like transients, the concern with this type of noise is not
usually the destruction of electronics but rather corruption of data that is transmitted or stored.

The optical isolator has been designed to offer outstanding protection against these common threats. Every board comes
equipped with isolated power source for the field transceivers. If a field surge affects one isolator, a common path to the others is
not available. In addition, the field signals are provided with common and differential mode filtering against line disturbance. The
result is improved immunity to industrial noise and protection of data throughput.

The optical isolator complies with the following standards:

IEC 1000-4-3, Radiated RF Immunity, 80 – 1000MHz, AM 80% @ 1KHz, 10V/m

IEC 1000-4-4, Electrical Fast Transients 2.0KV on field signal lines
IEC 1000-4-5, Surge Voltage, 1.0KV on each field signal line with respect to earth
IEC 1000-4-6, Conducted RF Immunity, 150KHz – 80MHz, AM 80% @ 1KHz, 10Vrms on field signal lines
IEC 1000-4-8, Power Frequency Magnetic Fields, 50Hz, 30A/m

Specifications:

Instrument Power
12-30 vdc, 40 mA

Environmental
-40°C to 60°C

Compliance Information
CE marked to comply with EMC Directive (2004/108/EC)

USA Office - Longwood, Florida Europe Office - Zwijndrecht (Antwerp) Belgium

Phone: (407) 332-1774 - Fax: (407) 332-1802 Phone: +32 (0)3 250 60 60 - Fax: +32 (0)3 250 60 61
www.toptech.com www.toptecheurope.com
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Toptech Optical Isolator - Technical Bulletin #1017

Board Version #3
Wiring

Field Side Wiring

TOP OF MODULE

Wire this Terminal E1 2 3 4 E1 2 3 4

Block for RS-485 RDA RDB TDA TDB

OR D1 2 3 4
D1 2 3 4
RX TX CTS GND

Wire this Terminal

Block for 2 or 4 wire RS-232

Note:
The wiring labels (RX, TX, etc.) describe the
computer function. For example, “TX” is the
computer transmit, “RX” is the computer receive.
The Optical Isolator is simply a pass-through device. Computer Side Wiring
TOP OF MODULE

Wire this Terminal C1 2 3 4 C1 2 3 4

TX RX CTS GND
Block for Discrete RS-232

OR 1

8
Wire this Terminal
for RS-232 Terminated with RJ-45 Plug

1 = N/C
2 = N/C
3 = N/C
4 = TX CPU
5 = RX CPU
6 = GND
7 = CTS
8 = N/C

USA Office - Longwood, Florida Europe Office - Zwijndrecht (Antwerp) Belgium

Phone: (407) 332-1774 - Fax: (407) 332-1802 Phone: +32 (0)3 250 60 60 - Fax: +32 (0)3 250 60 61
www.toptech.com www.toptecheurope.com
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Toptech Optical Isolator - Technical Bulletin #1013

Board Version #2
DIP Settings and Troubleshooting Released December, 2005

DIP Switch Quick Reference

DIP Settings Switch #1: 2-wire 485 Select (ON)
Switches #2-8: Baud Select (2-wire 485 Only)

I DIP Settings with RS-485 4-wire Field Wiring

DIP SWI #1 DIP SWI #2 DIP SWI #3 DIP SWI #4 DIP SWI #5 DIP SWI #6 DIP SWI #7 DIP SWI #8
OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF
ALL DIP switches should be set to the “OFF” position when using RS-485 (4-wire) field wiring

II DIP Settings with RS-485 2-wire Field Wiring

DIP SWI #1 DIP SWI #2 DIP SWI #3 DIP SWI #4 DIP SWI #5 DIP SWI #6 DIP SWI #7 DIP SWI #8
1.2k ON ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF
2.4k ON OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF
4.8k ON OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF OFF
9.6k ON OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF OFF
Baud Rate
19.2k ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF OFF
38.4k ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON OFF
57.6k ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF ON

III DIP Settings with RS-232 Field Wiring

DIP SWI #1 DIP SWI #2 DIP SWI #3 DIP SWI #4 DIP SWI #5 DIP SWI #6 DIP SWI #7 DIP SWI #8
OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF

ALL DIP switches should be in the “OFF” position when using RS-232 field wiring

Troubleshooting using the LEDs

When corresponding TX and RX LED’s are flashing, data is being transmitted properly.

If you experience communication problems, please refer to the table below for troubleshooting.

RX CTS
TX 5V = ON = OFF = FLASHING

Field Side Computer Side Power Off When a “CTS”

signal is not
present, “CTS”
Field Side Computer Side Normal sending and receiving between field side and computer side LEDs may be
solid ON
or solid OFF
Field Side Computer Side Normal sending and receiving between field side and computer side

Field Side Computer Side Possible problem with field device or field wiring
!
Optical Isolator
MUST be
Field Side Computer Side Possible problem with field device or field wiring terminated to
field devices
BEFORE
Field Side Computer Side Possible problem with wiring between optical isolator and computer troubleshooting

USA Office - Longwood, Florida Europe Office - Zwijndrecht (Antwerp) Belgium

Phone: (407) 332-1774 - Fax: (407) 332-1802 Phone: +32 (0)3 250 60 60 - Fax: +32 (0)3 250 60 61
www.toptech.com www.toptecheurope.com