LabVIEW
opto-isolated
Opto-isolated means that an electrical path has been interrupted and replaced for a tiny segment by an optical path. If you want to measure a signal, but there is some concern of high voltage or nasty noise entering the signal path, you can use opto-isolation.
The idea is to make your measured signal light up an LED that is aimed right at a photodetector. Your DAQ system reads the signal from the photodetector. That way, if some bozo plugs your measurement wire into the wall socket, your DAQ board will not fry. The LED may burn out, but the signal from the photodetector can never harm your input. There are good and reasonably priced opto-isolators available for digital signals up to the megahertz range, and analog signals in the kHz range.
Good quest
ion, even if it isn't LabVIEW-specific.
Daniel L. Press
PrimeTest Corp.
www.primetest.com
The idea is to make your measured signal light up an LED that is aimed right at a photodetector. Your DAQ system reads the signal from the photodetector. That way, if some bozo plugs your measurement wire into the wall socket, your DAQ board will not fry. The LED may burn out, but the signal from the photodetector can never harm your input. There are good and reasonably priced opto-isolators available for digital signals up to the megahertz range, and analog signals in the kHz range.
Good quest
ion, even if it isn't LabVIEW-specific.
Daniel L. Press
PrimeTest Corp.
www.primetest.com
