Skip to content
Electricalterminology

Electricalterminology

Best Blog for Basic Electrical Knowledge

Primary Menu
  • Electric
  • Manufacturers & Brands
  • Electronics
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Home
  • Electronics
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Optocoupler (Optoisolator)
  • Electronics

Advantages and Disadvantages of Optocoupler (Optoisolator)

electricalterminology 2 years ago
Advantages and disadvantages of optocoupler

An optocoupler (optoelectronic coupler/optoisolator) is basically an interface between two circuits that operate at (usually) different voltage levels. With an optocoupler, the only contact between the input and the output is a beam of light. Although optocoupler has many advantages, it has disadvantages too. Let’s check them one by one.

Advantages of Optocoupler

The following are the benefits of an optocoupler:

  • The key advantage of an optocoupler is the electrical isolation between the input and output circuits.
  • Optocoupler can be employed in any situation where a signal must be passed between two circuits that are isolated from each other.
  • It is possible to have an insulation resistance between the two circuits in the thousands of megohms.
  • It is useful in high-voltage applications where the potentials of two circuits may differ by several thousand volts.
  • The most common industrial use of the optocouplers (or optically-coupled isolators) is as a signal converter between high-voltage pitot devices (limit switches etc.) and low-voltage solid-state logic circuits.
  • Complete electrical isolation between two circuits is often necessary to prevent noise generated in one circuit from being passed to the other circuit. This is especially necessary for the coupling between high-voltage information-gathering circuits and low-voltage digital logic circuits.
  • The optocoupler eliminates the need for a relay-controlled contact or an isolating transformer, which are traditional methods of providing electrical isolation between circuits.
  • The optocoupler works well on either AC or DC high-voltage signals.
  • It is also used in a number of sensor applications to sense the presence of physical objects.
  • The lifetime of optocouplers can exceed several decades.
  • It offers a very good response at lower frequencies. It works very fast.
  • No contact bounce, no interference caused by arcs, wear the circuitry.
  • It is compact and lightweight.
  • It is cheap. (Check price on Amazon)
  • It consumes less power.
  • It has a high switching frequency due to short switch-on and switch-off times.

Disadvantages of Optocoupler

The following are the drawbacks of the optocoupler:

  • Optocoupler has a limited bandwidth, which means they cannot transmit high-frequency signals effectively.
  • Optocoupler needs external biasing voltage for its operation.
  • The High-frequency response is poor.
  • Optocoupler is not capable to handle high current.
  • Optocouplers using phototransistors do not have such good a linear relationship between the changes in light input and output current as photodiode types.
  • Optocoupler is limited in terms of the distance they can transmit signals. This means that it is not suitable for long-distance signal transmission.
  • Optocoupler has a limited temperature range and may not perform well in extreme temperatures.

Continue Reading

Previous: Advantages of PLC: The Key to Improved Productivity
Next: How Does a Relay Work? Explained With its Construction

Related Stories

Advantages of Transducers Advantages of Transducers for Optimal Measurement
  • Electronics

Advantages of Transducers for Optimal Measurement

electricalterminology 2 weeks ago
Advantages of Infrared Sensors Advantages of Infrared Sensors: Improved Accuracy and More
  • Electronics

Advantages of Infrared Sensors: Improved Accuracy and More

electricalterminology 2 weeks ago
VFD Faults Causes Prevention Techniques VFD Faults: Causes and Prevention Techniques
  • Electronics

VFD Faults: Causes and Prevention Techniques

electricalterminology 2 weeks ago
Advantages of PCB Advantages of PCB (Printed Circuit Board) in Electronics
  • Electronics

Advantages of PCB (Printed Circuit Board) in Electronics

electricalterminology 2 weeks ago
Diode Failures Causes Prevention Tips Diode Failures: Causes & Prevention Tips
  • Electronics

Diode Failures: Causes & Prevention Tips

electricalterminology 2 weeks ago
PLC Selection PLC Selection 101: Tips and Tricks for a Successful Choice
  • Electronics

PLC Selection 101: Tips and Tricks for a Successful Choice

electricalterminology 2 weeks ago

Posts List

Advantages of Transducers Advantages of Transducers for Optimal Measurement

Advantages of Transducers for Optimal Measurement

Advantages of Infrared Sensors Advantages of Infrared Sensors: Improved Accuracy and More

Advantages of Infrared Sensors: Improved Accuracy and More

VFD Faults Causes Prevention Techniques VFD Faults: Causes and Prevention Techniques

VFD Faults: Causes and Prevention Techniques

Advantages of PCB Advantages of PCB (Printed Circuit Board) in Electronics

Advantages of PCB (Printed Circuit Board) in Electronics

Diode Failures Causes Prevention Tips Diode Failures: Causes & Prevention Tips

Diode Failures: Causes & Prevention Tips

PLC Selection PLC Selection 101: Tips and Tricks for a Successful Choice

PLC Selection 101: Tips and Tricks for a Successful Choice

Categories

  • Electric
  • Electronics
  • Manufacturers & Brands
  • Uncategorized

Pages

  • About Us
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Contact

Recent Posts

  • From A to Z: Dual Function Circuit Interrupters
  • Advantages of Transducers for Optimal Measurement
  • Advantages of Infrared Sensors: Improved Accuracy and More
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Incandescent Lamps
  • VFD Parts: A Guide to Their Essential Functions
Copyright © All rights reserved. | Magnitude by AF themes.