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Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: pacioc193 on September 07, 2023, 07:38:23 pm

Title: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: pacioc193 on September 07, 2023, 07:38:23 pm
I’ve a working setup where a master and slave communicate troughs isolated 485.
I’ve not the possibility to get ground from any of the two devices.
Is there any way, using oscilloscope or better a logic analyzer to sniff data on this bus?
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: langwadt on September 07, 2023, 07:49:45 pm
if it is really isolated use one line a "ground" the other as signal
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: artag on September 07, 2023, 07:51:20 pm
A differential line receiver powerd from the oscilloscope or another isolated supply
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: pacioc193 on September 07, 2023, 08:01:13 pm
A differential line receiver powerd from the oscilloscope or another isolated supply

What could be use as differential line receiver?

if it is really isolated use one line a "ground" the other as signal

Could you make an example??
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: Doctorandus_P on September 07, 2023, 08:09:59 pm
What could be use as differential line receiver?

SN75176   :popcorn:

And add a few optocouplers. Or just buy an extra isolated RS485 transceiver module and stick it in your PC.
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: pacioc193 on September 07, 2023, 08:15:36 pm
What could be use as differential line receiver?

SN75176   :popcorn:

And add a few optocouplers. Or just buy an extra isolated RS485 transceiver module and stick it in your PC.

I will explain my problem :

I've connected an ADM2852E  transceiver to the system.
It can read the bus but digital signal generated from this transceiver is different from the one from other device.

Could be possible that this transceiver is not good to translate the bus? Is possible to check what is the real signal on the bus trought a logic analyzer without using a transceiver?

Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: langwadt on September 07, 2023, 08:20:03 pm
What could be use as differential line receiver?

SN75176   :popcorn:

And add a few optocouplers. Or just buy an extra isolated RS485 transceiver module and stick it in your PC.

as long as the common mode is reasonable it doesn't even have to be isolated, these are not isolated but the do work (consideriing the price) with only two connections

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184580728698 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/184580728698)
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: pacioc193 on September 07, 2023, 08:25:27 pm
What could be use as differential line receiver?

SN75176   :popcorn:

And add a few optocouplers. Or just buy an extra isolated RS485 transceiver module and stick it in your PC.

as long as the common mode is reasonable it doesn't even have to be isolated, these are not isolated but the do work (consideriing the price) with only two connections

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184580728698 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/184580728698)


I can't have a common mode in this application.
Ground of 1 device is not present anywhere.

The 485 communication is complete isolated on eache side.
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: langwadt on September 07, 2023, 08:47:55 pm
What could be use as differential line receiver?

SN75176   :popcorn:

And add a few optocouplers. Or just buy an extra isolated RS485 transceiver module and stick it in your PC.

as long as the common mode is reasonable it doesn't even have to be isolated, these are not isolated but the do work (consideriing the price) with only two connections

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184580728698 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/184580728698)


I can't have a common mode in this application.
Ground of 1 device is not present anywhere.

The 485 communication is complete isolated on eache side.

then that ebay thing will work just fine
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: pacioc193 on September 07, 2023, 08:53:48 pm
What could be use as differential line receiver?

SN75176   :popcorn:

And add a few optocouplers. Or just buy an extra isolated RS485 transceiver module and stick it in your PC.

as long as the common mode is reasonable it doesn't even have to be isolated, these are not isolated but the do work (consideriing the price) with only two connections

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184580728698 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/184580728698)


I can't have a common mode in this application.
Ground of 1 device is not present anywhere.

The 485 communication is complete isolated on eache side.

then that ebay thing will work just fine

Communication is not a standard async communication, Is a custom spi-like communication on two different bus ( CLK + DATA ) on RS485. I think the ebay stuff is just a usb-to-RS485 Async converter
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: langwadt on September 07, 2023, 09:04:19 pm
What could be use as differential line receiver?

SN75176   :popcorn:

And add a few optocouplers. Or just buy an extra isolated RS485 transceiver module and stick it in your PC.

as long as the common mode is reasonable it doesn't even have to be isolated, these are not isolated but the do work (consideriing the price) with only two connections

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184580728698 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/184580728698)


I can't have a common mode in this application.
Ground of 1 device is not present anywhere.

The 485 communication is complete isolated on eache side.

then that ebay thing will work just fine

Communication is not a standard async communication, Is a custom spi-like communication on two different bus ( CLK + DATA ) on RS485. I think the ebay stuff is just a usb-to-RS485 Async converter

then just a use any old rs485 receiver
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: pacioc193 on September 07, 2023, 09:15:11 pm
What could be use as differential line receiver?

SN75176   :popcorn:

And add a few optocouplers. Or just buy an extra isolated RS485 transceiver module and stick it in your PC.

as long as the common mode is reasonable it doesn't even have to be isolated, these are not isolated but the do work (consideriing the price) with only two connections

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184580728698 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/184580728698)


I can't have a common mode in this application.
Ground of 1 device is not present anywhere.

The 485 communication is complete isolated on eache side.

then that ebay thing will work just fine

Communication is not a standard async communication, Is a custom spi-like communication on two different bus ( CLK + DATA ) on RS485. I think the ebay stuff is just a usb-to-RS485 Async converter

then just a use any old rs485 receiver


I don’t have ground connection… where I attach my ground cable?
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: langwadt on September 07, 2023, 09:32:56 pm
What could be use as differential line receiver?

SN75176   :popcorn:

And add a few optocouplers. Or just buy an extra isolated RS485 transceiver module and stick it in your PC.

as long as the common mode is reasonable it doesn't even have to be isolated, these are not isolated but the do work (consideriing the price) with only two connections

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184580728698 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/184580728698)


I can't have a common mode in this application.
Ground of 1 device is not present anywhere.

The 485 communication is complete isolated on eache side.

then that ebay thing will work just fine

Communication is not a standard async communication, Is a custom spi-like communication on two different bus ( CLK + DATA ) on RS485. I think the ebay stuff is just a usb-to-RS485 Async converter

then just a use any old rs485 receiver


I don’t have ground connection… where I attach my ground cable?

you don't, look at that ebay thing, it only has A/B no ground
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: pacioc193 on September 07, 2023, 09:47:38 pm
Again… the one on eBay could be an isolated one. I want to see on the oscilloscope/logic analyzer the signal before transceiver convert it to ttl. That’s it
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: langwadt on September 07, 2023, 09:50:41 pm
Again… the one on eBay could be an isolated one. I want to see on the oscilloscope/logic analyzer the signal before transceiver convert it to ttl. That’s it

the ebay one is not isolated, I have one

since everything else is isolated you don't need isolation, a regular  rs485 transceiver will do
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: pacioc193 on September 07, 2023, 10:05:30 pm
Again… the one on eBay could be an isolated one. I want to see on the oscilloscope/logic analyzer the signal before transceiver convert it to ttl. That’s it

the ebay one is not isolated, I have one

since everything else is isolated you don't need isolation, a regular  rs485 transceiver will do

I’ve used multiple transceiver not isolated like :

https://www.ebay.it/itm/184550877233?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=724-128315-5854-1&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=184550877233&targetid=1827389197184&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=20569&poi=&campaignid=17955385566&mkgroupid=142692416071&rlsatarget=pla-1827389197184&abcId=9301109&merchantid=118621252&gbraid=0AAAAACadmUmwjxLoldac54wBzfHSjicAF&gclid=CjwKCAjw6eWnBhAKEiwADpnw9jgA6uGCeubtfx0LD275lUi2Bbn2eazVka4HdXVWtOjoxvugLiZQxhoC5UkQAvD_BwE (https://www.ebay.it/itm/184550877233?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=724-128315-5854-1&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=184550877233&targetid=1827389197184&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=20569&poi=&campaignid=17955385566&mkgroupid=142692416071&rlsatarget=pla-1827389197184&abcId=9301109&merchantid=118621252&gbraid=0AAAAACadmUmwjxLoldac54wBzfHSjicAF&gclid=CjwKCAjw6eWnBhAKEiwADpnw9jgA6uGCeubtfx0LD275lUi2Bbn2eazVka4HdXVWtOjoxvugLiZQxhoC5UkQAvD_BwE)

And no signal was picked up because no common ground was shared… the only way to pickup some signal was using isolated 485 ones
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: langwadt on September 07, 2023, 10:12:55 pm
Again… the one on eBay could be an isolated one. I want to see on the oscilloscope/logic analyzer the signal before transceiver convert it to ttl. That’s it

the ebay one is not isolated, I have one

since everything else is isolated you don't need isolation, a regular  rs485 transceiver will do

I’ve used multiple transceiver not isolated like :

https://www.ebay.it/itm/184550877233?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=724-128315-5854-1&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=184550877233&targetid=1827389197184&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=20569&poi=&campaignid=17955385566&mkgroupid=142692416071&rlsatarget=pla-1827389197184&abcId=9301109&merchantid=118621252&gbraid=0AAAAACadmUmwjxLoldac54wBzfHSjicAF&gclid=CjwKCAjw6eWnBhAKEiwADpnw9jgA6uGCeubtfx0LD275lUi2Bbn2eazVka4HdXVWtOjoxvugLiZQxhoC5UkQAvD_BwE (https://www.ebay.it/itm/184550877233?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=724-128315-5854-1&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=184550877233&targetid=1827389197184&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=20569&poi=&campaignid=17955385566&mkgroupid=142692416071&rlsatarget=pla-1827389197184&abcId=9301109&merchantid=118621252&gbraid=0AAAAACadmUmwjxLoldac54wBzfHSjicAF&gclid=CjwKCAjw6eWnBhAKEiwADpnw9jgA6uGCeubtfx0LD275lUi2Bbn2eazVka4HdXVWtOjoxvugLiZQxhoC5UkQAvD_BwE)

And no signal was picked up because no common ground was shared… the only way to pickup some signal was using isolated 485 ones

how did you wire it up?

if everything is isolated ground is what you say it is, in the case of using  non-isolated receiver on a fully isolated bus
its ground is the ground

Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: pacioc193 on September 08, 2023, 05:11:09 am
Again… the one on eBay could be an isolated one. I want to see on the oscilloscope/logic analyzer the signal before transceiver convert it to ttl. That’s it

the ebay one is not isolated, I have one

since everything else is isolated you don't need isolation, a regular  rs485 transceiver will do

I’ve used multiple transceiver not isolated like :

https://www.ebay.it/itm/184550877233?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=724-128315-5854-1&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=184550877233&targetid=1827389197184&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=20569&poi=&campaignid=17955385566&mkgroupid=142692416071&rlsatarget=pla-1827389197184&abcId=9301109&merchantid=118621252&gbraid=0AAAAACadmUmwjxLoldac54wBzfHSjicAF&gclid=CjwKCAjw6eWnBhAKEiwADpnw9jgA6uGCeubtfx0LD275lUi2Bbn2eazVka4HdXVWtOjoxvugLiZQxhoC5UkQAvD_BwE (https://www.ebay.it/itm/184550877233?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=724-128315-5854-1&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=184550877233&targetid=1827389197184&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=20569&poi=&campaignid=17955385566&mkgroupid=142692416071&rlsatarget=pla-1827389197184&abcId=9301109&merchantid=118621252&gbraid=0AAAAACadmUmwjxLoldac54wBzfHSjicAF&gclid=CjwKCAjw6eWnBhAKEiwADpnw9jgA6uGCeubtfx0LD275lUi2Bbn2eazVka4HdXVWtOjoxvugLiZQxhoC5UkQAvD_BwE)

And no signal was picked up because no common ground was shared… the only way to pickup some signal was using isolated 485 ones

how did you wire it up?

if everything is isolated ground is what you say it is, in the case of using  non-isolated receiver on a fully isolated bus
its ground is the ground




A classic 485 common ground transceiver was connected in the same way of isolated one without common ground and no signal was present on the line. I lost multiple hour to test the situation, ground to microcontroller, ground to earth ecc ecc but the transceiver was not capable to convert data until I try with a isolated one. Signal are converted but seems not in the correct ways. For this reason I want to try to read directly the differential bus and not the converted signal.
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: Doctorandus_P on September 08, 2023, 09:47:12 am
What could be use as differential line receiver?

SN75176   :popcorn:

And add a few optocouplers. Or just buy an extra isolated RS485 transceiver module and stick it in your PC.

I will explain my problem :

I've connected an ADM2852E  transceiver to the system.
It can read the bus but digital signal generated from this transceiver is different from the one from other device.

Could be possible that this transceiver is not good to translate the bus? Is possible to check what is the real signal on the bus trought a logic analyzer without using a transceiver?

When there is any doubt about signal integrity, then a logic analyzer is mostly useless, and you need an oscilloscope to look at the waveforms themselves.
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: Doctorandus_P on September 08, 2023, 09:57:56 am
I can't have a common mode in this application.
Ground of 1 device is not present anywhere.

The 485 communication is complete isolated on eache side.

RS485 simply does not work that way.
RS485 (just as CAN) needs a GND wire to ensure the common mode of the bus signals stays within limits. For RS485 this is from -7V to +12V, and there is no guarantee to stay within these limitations without a third wire.
You can use isolated bus drivers, so the nodes work on another GND lever then the bus itself, but the bus itself ALWAYS needs a GND wire on itself. If the bus does not have a GND wire, then any voltage shifts due to leakage or capacitive coupling are taken out of the data wires, and this will distort the bus signals themselves.

The cheap RS485 transceivers from Ali and other sources often have just two wires, and this is a bit misleading. They rely on the earthing of your PC, ans assume the nodes on the bus are earthed too. The GND wire in the bus is often omitted as a way to break GND loops, but this can only be done to break the loop itself. There still has to be another GND path nearby.

Isolating the bus is not a magic wand that solves all problems.
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: langwadt on September 08, 2023, 06:08:26 pm
I can't have a common mode in this application.
Ground of 1 device is not present anywhere.

The 485 communication is complete isolated on eache side.

RS485 simply does not work that way.
RS485 (just as CAN) needs a GND wire to ensure the common mode of the bus signals stays within limits. For RS485 this is from -7V to +12V, and there is no guarantee to stay within these limitations without a third wire.
You can use isolated bus drivers, so the nodes work on another GND lever then the bus itself, but the bus itself ALWAYS needs a GND wire on itself. If the bus does not have a GND wire, then any voltage shifts due to leakage or capacitive coupling are taken out of the data wires, and this will distort the bus signals themselves.

The cheap RS485 transceivers from Ali and other sources often have just two wires, and this is a bit misleading. They rely on the earthing of your PC, ans assume the nodes on the bus are earthed too. The GND wire in the bus is often omitted as a way to break GND loops, but this can only be done to break the loop itself. There still has to be another GND path nearby.

Isolating the bus is not a magic wand that solves all problems.

with an isolated transceiver and a bit of bias the signal lines should be in the allowed CM even without any shared ground

for receive only there's also IC's like IL610
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: pacioc193 on September 08, 2023, 08:30:12 pm
I can't have a common mode in this application.
Ground of 1 device is not present anywhere.

The 485 communication is complete isolated on eache side.

RS485 simply does not work that way.
RS485 (just as CAN) needs a GND wire to ensure the common mode of the bus signals stays within limits. For RS485 this is from -7V to +12V, and there is no guarantee to stay within these limitations without a third wire.
You can use isolated bus drivers, so the nodes work on another GND lever then the bus itself, but the bus itself ALWAYS needs a GND wire on itself. If the bus does not have a GND wire, then any voltage shifts due to leakage or capacitive coupling are taken out of the data wires, and this will distort the bus signals themselves.

The cheap RS485 transceivers from Ali and other sources often have just two wires, and this is a bit misleading. They rely on the earthing of your PC, ans assume the nodes on the bus are earthed too. The GND wire in the bus is often omitted as a way to break GND loops, but this can only be done to break the loop itself. There still has to be another GND path nearby.

Isolating the bus is not a magic wand that solves all problems.


Using an isolated transceiver the MASTER ground will not affect the transmission line because an isolated GND is created.
In this case, is not need to use a common ground mode because the isolated GND beetween all nodes will be in spec for all of them.
Sharing ground is not always possible cause different voltage potential ( 220VAC system VS 5VDC system ).
In my specific case the communication beetween nodes doesn't share ground. For this reason i need to use isolated transceiver.

I can't have a common mode in this application.
Ground of 1 device is not present anywhere.

The 485 communication is complete isolated on eache side.

RS485 simply does not work that way.
RS485 (just as CAN) needs a GND wire to ensure the common mode of the bus signals stays within limits. For RS485 this is from -7V to +12V, and there is no guarantee to stay within these limitations without a third wire.
You can use isolated bus drivers, so the nodes work on another GND lever then the bus itself, but the bus itself ALWAYS needs a GND wire on itself. If the bus does not have a GND wire, then any voltage shifts due to leakage or capacitive coupling are taken out of the data wires, and this will distort the bus signals themselves.

The cheap RS485 transceivers from Ali and other sources often have just two wires, and this is a bit misleading. They rely on the earthing of your PC, ans assume the nodes on the bus are earthed too. The GND wire in the bus is often omitted as a way to break GND loops, but this can only be done to break the loop itself. There still has to be another GND path nearby.

Isolating the bus is not a magic wand that solves all problems.

with an isolated transceiver and a bit of bias the signal lines should be in the allowed CM even without any shared ground

for receive only there's also IC's like IL610

Correct!  :)

What could be use as differential line receiver?

SN75176   :popcorn:

And add a few optocouplers. Or just buy an extra isolated RS485 transceiver module and stick it in your PC.

I will explain my problem :

I've connected an ADM2852E  transceiver to the system.
It can read the bus but digital signal generated from this transceiver is different from the one from other device.

Could be possible that this transceiver is not good to translate the bus? Is possible to check what is the real signal on the bus trought a logic analyzer without using a transceiver?

When there is any doubt about signal integrity, then a logic analyzer is mostly useless, and you need an oscilloscope to look at the waveforms themselves.

Yes you right... I never used an oscilloscope without ground lead. After having search online oscilloscope with MATH function is the correct instrument for me.


CH1 RS485 - A
CH2 RS485 - B

Oscilloscope use the GND from the battery of laptop
RS485 isolated but use the GND of a powerbank

GND lead probe are disconnected. Only A and B signal are used. NO GND is shared beetween the two system
The signal oscillate beetween -550mv + 840mv

In this case, no logic analyzer can read this signal... At least my chinese one.

If i connect the GND from laptop and isolated bus, the signal oscillate from 0V to 5V


(https://i.ibb.co/DkkGtJN/eevblog.png)
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: Doctorandus_P on September 09, 2023, 02:02:25 pm
Using an isolated transceiver the MASTER ground will not affect the transmission line because an isolated GND is created.
In this case, is not need to use a common ground mode because the isolated GND beetween all nodes will be in spec for all of them.
Sharing ground is not always possible cause different voltage potential ( 220VAC system VS 5VDC system ).
In my specific case the communication beetween nodes doesn't share ground. For this reason i need to use isolated transceiver.

Now it's getting silly.
The two signal wires form an electrical circuit between all nodes (whether they have extra isolation or not) and a GND wire is simply mandatory third wire. There simply is no bullshitting around that. Without a GND wire you loose signal integrity. You can't talk your way out of physics. You are making the false assumption that a "perfect isolation" is possible. In reality there is all kind of interference. From long wires picking up stuff as antenna's, and capacitive coupling to the rest of the world. When you ignore those things exist, you get yourself into trouble.

But start with some hard data. Draw a circuit diagram that shows how your nodes are connected to the common RS485 bus, and how those nodes are powered. Drawing that overview might already make it clear for you. If not, then post that schematic and we can talk further.
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: langwadt on September 09, 2023, 02:12:32 pm
Using an isolated transceiver the MASTER ground will not affect the transmission line because an isolated GND is created.
In this case, is not need to use a common ground mode because the isolated GND beetween all nodes will be in spec for all of them.
Sharing ground is not always possible cause different voltage potential ( 220VAC system VS 5VDC system ).
In my specific case the communication beetween nodes doesn't share ground. For this reason i need to use isolated transceiver.

Now it's getting silly.
The two signal wires form an electrical circuit between all nodes (whether they have extra isolation or not) and a GND wire is simply mandatory third wire. There simply is no bullshitting around that. Without a GND wire you loose signal integrity. You can't talk your way out of physics. You are making the false assumption that a "perfect isolation" is possible. In reality there is all kind of interference. From long wires picking up stuff as antenna's, and capacitive coupling to the rest of the world. When you ignore those things exist, you get yourself into trouble.

But start with some hard data. Draw a circuit diagram that shows how your nodes are connected to the common RS485 bus, and how those nodes are powered. Drawing that overview might already make it clear for you. If not, then post that schematic and we can talk further.

ethernet works just fine without a third wire

Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: pacioc193 on September 09, 2023, 05:12:42 pm
Using an isolated transceiver the MASTER ground will not affect the transmission line because an isolated GND is created.
In this case, is not need to use a common ground mode because the isolated GND beetween all nodes will be in spec for all of them.
Sharing ground is not always possible cause different voltage potential ( 220VAC system VS 5VDC system ).
In my specific case the communication beetween nodes doesn't share ground. For this reason i need to use isolated transceiver.


Now it's getting silly.
The two signal wires form an electrical circuit between all nodes (whether they have extra isolation or not) and a GND wire is simply mandatory third wire. There simply is no bullshitting around that. Without a GND wire you loose signal integrity. You can't talk your way out of physics. You are making the false assumption that a "perfect isolation" is possible. In reality there is all kind of interference. From long wires picking up stuff as antenna's, and capacitive coupling to the rest of the world. When you ignore those things exist, you get yourself into trouble.

But start with some hard data. Draw a circuit diagram that shows how your nodes are connected to the common RS485 bus, and how those nodes are powered. Drawing that overview might already make it clear for you. If not, then post that schematic and we can talk further.


I cannot understand why you cannot admit that a connection without shared ground cable could work. Abs the impedance between the two ground is relative high.
Rs-485 can works without 3rd cable.
As shown by my photo , the ground was not connected.
The system works because the system have high tolerance as differential input. As you see on the oscilloscope the the system is able to sum signal and determinate a correct convert signal.
The original Signal oscillating from 0-5 volt. The oscilloscope can read it with a low voltage span. But this low voltage span is enough to convert signal.
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: Doctorandus_P on September 09, 2023, 08:08:44 pm

I cannot understand why you cannot admit that a connection without shared ground cable could work.

Because it is a hit-and-miss situation and you will not reliable results even if it "seems" to work.

Once you start loading the RS485 data wires by abusing them for equalizing the "GND" level of the nodes you start distorting the RS485 data. There simply is no way around the physics unless you are a magician from another world.
If yo don't believe me, then go buy an oscilloscope and measure what is really happening with your data lines.
Or at least draw the schematic, complete with how all the nodes get their power to make it possible to have a sensible conversation.

If that is too much work for you, well then good luck to you, but I'm not wasting any more time on you.
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: pacioc193 on September 09, 2023, 11:51:18 pm
I don’t want to argue on this topic cause I’m here to ask suggestion.
From my try communication was pretty stable and I need to sniff it for just a short periodo of time.

I’ve just a DB9 where I can find :

Pin 1 : Data B
Pin 2 : Data A
Pin 3 : Clock B
Pin 4 : Clock A

I’ve tested to read signal using oscilloscope with power supply ground but signal is not clear. For this reason I think it use an isolated transceiver.
I’ve tested the method present in this YouTube video : https://youtu.be/VWodjUSkYVE?si=IgGqxHjJ1kwlV8Aa and I was able to pickup signal. Now I’m searching the festers way to decode signal instead of using manual method ( using a printer and a pen… )
Title: Re: Isolated rs485 - logic analyzer
Post by: tooki on September 17, 2023, 08:33:13 am
Rs-485 can works without 3rd cable.
But just to be clear, all one can say is that "you can often get away with it". The RS-485 standard unequivocally says to use a ground connection. Unfortunately, the common belief that ground isn't necessary has led some manufacturers to sell equipment with no ground in their RS-485 connectors. That doesn't mean it's a good idea.

If your ground potentials "drift away" from each other, you can end up frying the transceiver when its common mode voltage is exceeded.