USB galvanic isolation

cuibono · 18th September 2009, 10:43 PM

Check out this cool new gizmo:

http://www.circuitsathome.com/mcu/usb/usb-isolator

It isolates usb device's ground connections. For instance, my laptop causes my usb soundcard to hum when connected to an amp - I use a ground lifter on the laptop to get rid of it, but this gizmo is probably safer.

star882 · 19th September 2009, 04:22 AM

Use a fiber optic link. It's commonly available and very, very effective at isolation.

theAnonymous1 · 04:36 AM

Thanks for bringing this to our attention!!!

I've been waiting for a simple solution like this to come along.

Now I can do a USB -> I2S DAC without fear of ground loops and noise from the PC. I'm glad I never got around to wasting any time on a USB -> SPDIF solution.

eclectic2k · 19th September 2009, 05:15 AM

Very Nice. I hadn't realized that ADI makes an ADuM specifically for USB. They are great little isloators! (I think Silicon Labs make some as well)

This usb isolator is precisely what soundcheck was looking for in this thread:
USB DAC isolation ?

In which I suggested ADuM parts and seem to have been largely ignored

Looks like someone beat us there anyway

HaLo6 · 06:35 PM

thats awesome I can use that to isolate all the USB-Inputs for my jukebox! I just bought two PCB's , AD is sending two samples of the ADuM chip!

Korrah · 26th September 2009, 07:40 PM

Just making sure here, this little gadget also allows us to supply a clean 5V to the USB device right?

theAnonymous1 · 27th September 2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Korrah

Just making sure here, this little gadget also allows us to supply a clean 5V to the USB device right?

You have to add a seperate 5V supply to the device, clean or not.

Ipanema · 29th September 2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by star882

Use a fiber optic link. It's commonly available and very, very effective at isolation.

Do you mean something like this? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...%3DI%26otn%3D2

May I know how will the optical transmitter improve the jittery output feed from SPDIF of PCM2902?

Korrah · 30th September 2009, 03:33 AM

No, what he meant was this: http://www.usb-shop.com/opticis.html

Quote:

You have to add a seperate 5V supply to the device, clean or not.

Fair enough, but its 7-25V actually

theAnonymous1 · 30th September 2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Korrah

Fair enough, but its 7-25V actually

I was speaking of the supply required by using the ADuM4160 in general because it only transfers data to/from the host, not power.

18th September 2009, 10:43 PM	#1
cuibono diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: City of Angles	USB galvanic isolation Check out this cool new gizmo: http://www.circuitsathome.com/mcu/usb/usb-isolator It isolates usb device's ground connections. For instance, my laptop causes my usb soundcard to hum when connected to an amp - I use a ground lifter on the laptop to get rid of it, but this gizmo is probably safer. __________________ double complete rainbow all the way!!

19th September 2009, 04:22 AM	#2
star882 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007	Use a fiber optic link. It's commonly available and very, very effective at isolation. __________________ "Fully on MOSFET = closed switch, Fully off MOSFET = open switch, Half on MOSFET = poor imitation of Tiffany Yep." - also applies to IGBTs!

19th September 2009, 04:33 AM	#3
theAnonymous1 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Anonymityville	Thanks for bringing this to our attention!!! I've been waiting for a simple solution like this to come along. Now I can do a USB -> I2S DAC without fear of ground loops and noise from the PC. I'm glad I never got around to wasting any time on a USB -> SPDIF solution. __________________ "If you don't like funerals don't kick sand in Ninja's face." - Ninja Last edited by theAnonymous1; 19th September 2009 at 04:36 AM.

25th September 2009, 06:19 PM	#5
HaLo6 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2008	thats awesome I can use that to isolate all the USB-Inputs for my jukebox! I just bought two PCB's , AD is sending two samples of the ADuM chip! Last edited by HaLo6; 25th September 2009 at 06:35 PM.

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19th September 2009, 05:15 AM	#4
eclectic2k diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Silicon Valley	Very Nice. I hadn't realized that ADI makes an ADuM specifically for USB. They are great little isloators! (I think Silicon Labs make some as well) This usb isolator is precisely what soundcheck was looking for in this thread: USB DAC isolation ? In which I suggested ADuM parts and seem to have been largely ignored Looks like someone beat us there anyway

26th September 2009, 07:40 PM	#6
Korrah diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canberra	Just making sure here, this little gadget also allows us to supply a clean 5V to the USB device right?

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