USB Isolators with Built-in Heavy-Duty Power Transfer - no external power supply needed

USB2ISO
USB2ISO USB Full Speed Isolator
(US$59.95)

Current Output: > 400mA

USB-ISO-12
VT USB-ISO-12 USB Full Speed Isolator
(US$69.95)

Current Output: > 800mA
Find out more: Manual

USB-ISO-480
VT USB-ISO-480 USB High Speed Isolator
(US$149.95)

Current Output: > 800mA
Find out more: Manual

Hardware Specifications

General USB2ISO VT USB-ISO-12 VT USB-ISO-480
USB Speed Full Speed (12 Mbps) Full Speed (12 Mbps)
Low Speed (1.5 Mbps)
High Speed (480 Mbps)
Full Speed (12 Mbps)
Low Speed (1.5 Mbps)
Current Output
(5V ± 0.5V)
> 400 mA* > 800 mA*
(if the USB port can supply)
> 800 mA*
(if the USB port can supply)
Data Isolation 1 kV 2.5 kVDC @ 1 min 2.5 kVDC @ 1 min
Power Isolation 1 kV 2.5 kVDC @ 1 min 2.5 kVDC @ 1 min
Connectors USB-A-Plug for PC
USB-A-Socket for USB cable to device
USB-A-Plug for PC
USB-A-Socket for USB cable to device
USB-A-Plug for PC
USB-A-Socket for USB cable to device
Temperature Range -40 °C ~ 50 °C -40 °C ~ 50 °C -40 °C ~ 50 °C
Size 50 x 25 x 12 mm 50 x 23 x 14 mm 50 x 23 x 14 mm
Undervoltage Protection LED slow blinking LED slow blinking
Overvoltage Protection LED fast blinking LED fast blinking
Overheating Protection LED fast blinking LED fast blinking
Power Efficiency η ≥ 80% η ≥ 80%
Supported Audio Interfaces up to 96 kHz 24-bit stereo inputs & outputs up to 96 kHz 24-bit stereo inputs & outputs All including 192 kHz, 384 kHz, 768 kHz, 1536 kHz, 24-bit or 32-bit, stereo or multi-channel inputs & outputs
Allow floating measurement using a DSO with single-ended inputs after isolation of earth ground? Yes Yes Yes
Number of Isolators needed for VT hardware? One isolator provides sufficient power to:
VT DSO - 2810R, 2810, 2810E, 2820R, 2820, 2820E, 2A10, 2A20
VT RTA - 168A, 168B
VT UltraMic-384, VT IEPE-2G05, VT CAMP-2G05, 333D01

Two isolators provide sufficient power to:
VT DSO - 2A10E, 2A20E.
A USB cable with two heads on the PC side should be used in this case.
One isolator provides sufficient power to:
VT DSO** - 2810R, 2810, 2810E, 2820R, 2820, 2820E, 2A10, 2A20, 2A10E, 2A20E
VT RTA - 168A, 168B
VT UltraMic-384, VT IEPE-2G05, VT CAMP-2G05, 333D01
One isolator provides sufficient power to:
VT DSO** - 2810R, 2810, 2810E, 2820R, 2820, 2820E, 2A10, 2A20, 2A10E, 2A20E
VT RTA - 168A, 168B
VT UltraMic-384, VT IEPE-2G05, VT CAMP-2G05, 333D01

* A standard USB 2.0 port (usually black in color) can output at least 500 mA while a standard USB 3 port (usually blue in color) can output at least 900 mA. In fact, most computers' USB ports nowadays can supply a current of more than 1A. However, many USB isolators in the market are unable to supply enough current to those power demanding USB devices such as USB oscilloscopes.

** The second-generation VT DSOs support both high speed (480Mbps) and full speed (12Mbps). High speed is preferrable as it is much faster than full speed, resulting in much faster screen refresh rates, and much higher sustainable sampling rates under the streaming mode.

Important note: Isolating the ground of an oscilloscope from the protective earth, through a battery-powered laptop or USB isolator, is a safety hazard, be sure that the oscilloscope probe ground lead never toughs anywhere with a dangerous potential above the earth ground.

The USB Galvanic Isolator is used for:

  1. Protection of computer and attached USB devices - GREAT for LAB & Field use!
  2. Protection of electronic test and measurement devices such as USB oscilloscopes and USB signal generators, as well as the circuits under test, when doing electronic measurements
  3. Protection of programmers and circuit boards when programming embedded boards
  4. Allow safe serial port galvanic separation for communication
  5. Avoiding ground loops between devices - for instance PC -> USB Isolator -> USB SoundCard -> Audio Power Amplifier to eliminate hum created by gound loops

Package Contents

  1. USB Isolator

How it works

Plug the USB isolator into a USB port of a hub or PC and then plug your USB device into the USB isolator. The PC and your USB device now have no electrical connection but can still talk to each other. The USB isolator module also transfers power from the PC to your USB device with no electrical connection. Your USB device is now protected and can be attached to other ground potentials without any ground loops that could destroy your computer, USB device and other attached electronic devices.

USB2ISO USB 2.0 Full Speed Isolator Diagram

USB2ISO USB 2.0 Full Speed Isolator Diagram

Examples

How to make floating or isolated measurements and break the ground loop with a USB oscilloscope?