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Galvanic Isolation

Galvanic isolation is a principle of isolating electrical systems to prevent current flow between sections. It is used where circuits must communicate but have different ground potentials, preventing unwanted current and ensuring safety. Common methods of isolation include transformers, opto-isolators, capacitors, and relays.

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138 views

Galvanic Isolation

Galvanic isolation is a principle of isolating electrical systems to prevent current flow between sections. It is used where circuits must communicate but have different ground potentials, preventing unwanted current and ensuring safety. Common methods of isolation include transformers, opto-isolators, capacitors, and relays.

Uploaded by

Dijith Jhansi
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Galvanic isolation

Galvanic isolation is a principle of isolating functional sections of


electrical systems to prevent current flow; no direct conduction path
is permitted.[1][2] Energy or information can still be exchanged
between the sections by other means, such as capacitance, induction
or electromagnetic waves, or by optical, acoustic or mechanical
means. A transformer is the most widespread
example of galvanic isolation.
Galvanic isolation is used where two or more electric circuits must
communicate, but their grounds may be at different potentials. It is
an effective method of breaking ground loops by preventing
unwanted current from flowing between two units sharing a ground
conductor. Galvanic isolation is also used for safety, preventing
accidental current from reaching ground through a person's body.

Contents
An opto-isolator is a very popular
Methods method of isolation in digital circuits.
Transformer
Opto-isolator
Capacitor
Hall effect
Magnetoresistance
Relay
Applications
References
See also
External links

Methods
Cross-section of dual in-line package
opto-isolators. Relative sizes of LED
Transformer (red) and sensor (green) are
exaggerated.
Transformers couple by magnetic flux. The primary and secondary
windings of a transformer are not connected to each other (an
autotransformer has a conductive connection between its windings and so does not provide isolation). The
voltage difference that may safely be applied between windings without risk of breakdown (the isolation
voltage) is specified in kilovolts by an industry standard. The same applies to transductors. While
transformers are usually used to change voltages, isolation transformers with a 1:1 ratio are used in safety
applications.
If two electronic systems have a common ground, they are not
galvanically isolated. The common ground might not normally and
intentionally have connection to functional poles, but might become
connected. For this reason isolation transformers do not supply a
GND/earth pole.

Opto-isolator Everlight EL817 phototransistor opto-


isolator in DIP-4 package
Opto-isolators transmit information by light waves. The sender (light
source) and receiver (photosensitive device) are not electrically
connected; typically they are held in place within a matrix of
transparent, insulating plastic.

Capacitor

Capacitors allow alternating current (AC) to flow, but block direct


current; they couple ac signals between circuits at different direct
voltages. Depending on conditions, a capacitor may fail and become
"short circuited", ending its electric isolation function, which creates Halo TG110-S050N2RL 10/100Base-
TX ethernet pulse transformer in SO-
risk to the "now connected circuit" and, possibly, human danger. To
16 package
address this question, there are special ratings for capacitors used for
safety isolation, such as "Class Y".

Hall effect

Hall effect sensors allow an inductor to transfer information across a small gap magnetically. Unlike opto-
isolators they do not contain a light source with a finite life, and in contrast to a transformer based approach
they don't require DC balancing.

Magnetoresistance

Magnetocouplers use giant magnetoresistance (GMR) to couple from AC down to DC.

Relay

One side operates the magnetic coil of an isolation relay. The other side is connected to switched contacts.

Applications
Optocouplers are used within a system to decouple a function block from another connected to the power
grid or other high voltage, for safety and equipment protection. For example, power semiconductors
connected to the line voltage may be switched by optocouplers driven from low-voltage circuits, which need
not be insulated for the higher line voltage.

Transformers allow the output of a device to "float" relative to ground to avoid potential ground loops.
Power isolation transformers increase the safety of a device, so that a person touching a live portion of the
circuit will not have current flow through them to earth. Power sockets intended for electric razor supply
may use an isolation transformer to prevent an electric shock if the razor should be dropped into water.
References
1. John Huntington Show Networks and Control Systems: Formerly Control Systems for Live
Entertainment 2012 ISBN 0615655904, page 98
2. "Description of Galvanic Isolation" (https://www.schneider-electric.us/en/faqs/FA157465/).
Schneider Electric. Retrieved 2019-03-29.

See also
Opto-isolator
Luigi Galvani

External links
Galvanic Isolation: Purpose and Methodologies (https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/technical-arti
cles/galvanic-isolation-Purpose-and-Methodologies/), January 12, 2016

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