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OPTO-2 NMEA TO RS232 OPTO-ISOLATOR

The OPTO-2 is no longer in production. Please see the current OPTO-4 for the most advanced serial adaptor cable.

The Actisense OPTO-2 cable is an easy, safe and low-cost method of connecting an NMEA system to a laptop PC (and any other device with a standard RS232 9-pin port).

Actisense retired product 750x750 1 1

Opto-isolation provides 2000 volts of protection to the vital NMEA devices onboard, and more. Whilst protecting the most vital and expensive devices in the NMEA system, it also converts from the PC standard RS232 9-pin serial communications port to an NMEA 0183 (RS422) marine bus link.

In addition, the OPTO-2 cable and plug-case are fully shielded to offer a complete solution for system builders that require all components to be shielded (particularly in noisy and/or commercial environments).

The OPTO-2 cable is a bi-directional NMEA 0183 (RS422) to RS232 interface cable, that utilises full galvanic opto-isolation to protect the PC input, and “Tranzorb” protection for the PC output. This provides comprehensive isolation of expensive PC hardware when connecting to an NMEA 0183 bus that may have picked up potentially hazardous voltages around the electrically noisy environment of a vessel.

No external power supply is required as the cable takes all necessary power from the RS232/PC port. Simple installation requires wiring the open end to the NMEA bus, and plugging the D-type connector into the PC, to start receiving the NMEA data – true plug’n’play functionality.

Supply voltage Derived from computer serial port 7 15 V
Supply current

 

Derived from computer serial port

 

2

 

5

 

mA

 

NMEA in/out
Input voltage tolerance Continuous operation

Short term operation (<1 sec)

-15

-35

+15

+35

V

V

Differential input voltage Required level for data to be detected 1.8 V
Output voltage Dependant on computer serial port +/-5 +/-15 V
Output current Dependant on computer serial port 10 mA
Input to output protection

 

Full Galvanic Opto-isolation protection

 

 

2000

 

V

 

RS232 in/out
Input voltage tolerance -15 +15 V
Input voltage threshold Logical LOW

Logical HIGH

0.8

1.7

1.2

2.8

V

V

Output voltage range 3k ohm load, “V”=RS232 port voltage -V +V V
Output resistance

 

Output voltage swing +/-2V

 

200

 

 

ohms

 

General
Baud rate 2400 57600 bps
Ambient temperature -20 +70 °C

Opto-isolation provides 2000 volts of protection to the vital NMEA devices onboard, and more. Whilst protecting the most vital and expensive devices in the NMEA system, it also converts from the PC standard RS232 9-pin serial communications port to an NMEA 0183 (RS422) marine bus link.

In addition, the OPTO-2 cable and plug-case are fully shielded to offer a complete solution for system builders that require all components to be shielded (particularly in noisy and/or commercial environments).

The OPTO-2 cable is a bi-directional NMEA 0183 (RS422) to RS232 interface cable, that utilises full galvanic opto-isolation to protect the PC input, and “Tranzorb” protection for the PC output. This provides comprehensive isolation of expensive PC hardware when connecting to an NMEA 0183 bus that may have picked up potentially hazardous voltages around the electrically noisy environment of a vessel.

No external power supply is required as the cable takes all necessary power from the RS232/PC port. Simple installation requires wiring the open end to the NMEA bus, and plugging the D-type connector into the PC, to start receiving the NMEA data – true plug’n’play functionality.

Supply voltage Derived from computer serial port 7 15 V
Supply current

 

Derived from computer serial port

 

2

 

5

 

mA

 

NMEA in/out
Input voltage tolerance Continuous operation

Short term operation (<1 sec)

-15

-35

+15

+35

V

V

Differential input voltage Required level for data to be detected 1.8 V
Output voltage Dependant on computer serial port +/-5 +/-15 V
Output current Dependant on computer serial port 10 mA
Input to output protection

 

Full Galvanic Opto-isolation protection

 

 

2000

 

V

 

RS232 in/out
Input voltage tolerance -15 +15 V
Input voltage threshold Logical LOW

Logical HIGH

0.8

1.7

1.2

2.8

V

V

Output voltage range 3k ohm load, “V”=RS232 port voltage -V +V V
Output resistance

 

Output voltage swing +/-2V

 

200

 

 

ohms

 

General
Baud rate 2400 57600 bps
Ambient temperature -20 +70 °C