I decided on RS485 to run data around the various modules inside my model helicopter and rather than having one RS-232 debug port for everything, I was going to have a PC be able to plug into the RS-485 network to configure and debug all the devices on the bus.
So I need a USB-RS485 converter. None of the devices inside the helicopter have isolated RS485 transceivers (too many extra isolated power supplies and wires running around just to power the bus-side of the transceivers. However, the power-side of the drive systems (main rotor motor, drive MOSFETs, and 60V drive battery) are galvanically isolated from everything else. Everything else includes the logic side of the motor driver, servos, radio, autopilot, etc. and run off of their own 7V battery.
Do I need a isolated USB-RS485 converter to protect my PC when connected to the system? I know plugging an unisolated RS-232 into a motor driver to your PC is a bad idea because a surge could make it's way into your PC and blow it. What about my described scenario? The biggest threat is already isolated, what about the "everything else"?
So I need a USB-RS485 converter. None of the devices inside the helicopter have isolated RS485 transceivers (too many extra isolated power supplies and wires running around just to power the bus-side of the transceivers. However, the power-side of the drive systems (main rotor motor, drive MOSFETs, and 60V drive battery) are galvanically isolated from everything else. Everything else includes the logic side of the motor driver, servos, radio, autopilot, etc. and run off of their own 7V battery.
Do I need a isolated USB-RS485 converter to protect my PC when connected to the system? I know plugging an unisolated RS-232 into a motor driver to your PC is a bad idea because a surge could make it's way into your PC and blow it. What about my described scenario? The biggest threat is already isolated, what about the "everything else"?
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