hey all,
I was wondering if this product is actually just an opto isolator?
product
datasheet
datasheet pdf
Because im wondering if something like this:
4bit opto isolator
or this
BOB-09118
could be used for for the same job but for much cheaper.
what you think?
Thanks
dsaisho:
I was wondering if this product is actually just an opto isolator?
product
Basic EZO™ Inline Voltage Isolator | Atlas Scientific
datasheet
Corrected datasheet!
No. 
This product is an isolated power converter plus an opto-isolator configured for serial data at a reasonable baudrate, in either direction.
dsaisho:
Because I'm wondering if something like this:
4bit opto isolator
or this
BOB-09118could be used for for the same job but for much cheaper.
No, because the isolated power converter is missing. 
Hey thank you for the info! I had a feeling it was too good to be true 
So would I need something like this:
AND
one of the opto isolators I listed above?
If not,
Do you have any suggestions on where to get a cheap isolated power converter, its a challenge for me to search them since im still learning what they really are.
Thank you
Oh also quick question,
Is an octopulur the same thing as a voltage isolator?
Octopulur? Never heard of that, but the "octo" suggests 8 of something.
dsaisho:
So would I need something like this:
RFB-0505S Recom Power | Power Supplies - Board Mount | DigiKeyAND
one of the opto isolators I listed above?
Link corrected. 5 V, 200 mA, 1 kV isolation. That sounds about right. Price looks OK apart from shipping. 
octopulur
I'm assuming you didn't recognise the 2 words i think you saw; and created a new word that sounds similar.
Octopulur is almost an anagram with optocoupler or opto-coupler which is a nice word describing what the part actually does: it uses light instead of an electric connection to couple signals.
Opto isolator means it uses light to ensure 2 parts aren't electrically connected (i.e. isolated).
So one doesn't exclude the other, and yes these are the same if you're talking about an IC like part instead of some black box module.
If you want or need to use this for analogue signals, you may probably want to do some kind of modulation to get reliable results.
dsaisho:
Oh also quick question,Is an octopulur the same thing as a voltage isolator?
OMG im sorry, I meant optocoupler
is an optocoupler the same thing as a voltage isolator?
No, it is not.
As i told in my previous reply, the optocoupler is part of that module.
If you're going to order an optocoupler, you'll get the isolating part (the chip you see on the picture).
But once isolated, there's no voltages at the output.
So you'd have to create that.
If you order the module you linked to in your last reply, you'll get a PCB which has some additional parts.
These resistors and transistors will help you to get a voltage at the output; you need to put a supply to the secondary part to do have voltages at the output of the module.
You may think i'm nitpicking here, because in the end you'd get what you are looking for.
But it is as important to know what's what, as it is to understand how and why it works (or even in order to know how it works).
There are at least 3 ways to achieve galvanic isolation for signals,
The Atlas Scientific module uses an ADM3260 pulse transformer chip, to quote the datasheet:
Based on the iCoupler® and isoPower® chip scale transformer technology, the ADM32601 is a hot swappable digital and power isolator with two nonlatching, bidirectional communication channels, supporting a complete isolated I2C interface, and an integrated isolated dc-to -dc converter, supporting up to 150 mW of isolated power conversion.