Interface Cable - Galvanic Isolation?

[jimmyblue]

Just thinking, before the whistle blows and I go plug
it in for the first time - is this an optoisolated interface?
Or are there any voltage limits, vehicle-to-PC and/or
current paths to be respected?

More specifically, I have an old Toshiba laptop I've been
using for EFILive logging, because it has this great +15V
charger voltage and I can run it off the cig lighter with
a straight cable. Which is great since Toocheapa made
lousy laptop batteries. But, this makes laptop chassis
equal vehicle chassis and this could get ugly if the new
HPTuners cable were somehow less forgiving than the
B&B EFILiveV6Pro cable.

Are there any isolation concerns with the hardware?

[Casey]

Just thinking, before the whistle blows and I go plug
it in for the first time - is this an optoisolated interface?
Or are there any voltage limits, vehicle-to-PC and/or
current paths to be respected?

More specifically, I have an old Toshiba laptop I've been
using for EFILive logging, because it has this great +15V
charger voltage and I can run it off the cig lighter with
a straight cable. Which is great since Toocheapa made
lousy laptop batteries. But, this makes laptop chassis
equal vehicle chassis and this could get ugly if the new
HPTuners cable were somehow less forgiving than the
B&B EFILiveV6Pro cable.

Are there any isolation concerns with the hardware?

There should be no problems. The RS232 input is referenced pin 5 to RS232 data ground, to vehicle ground.

We do not use the chassis ground from the laptop. Just so long as your laptop chassis is not referenced to +12 you will be ok.

If you can make a +12 test light illuminate from vehicle ground to laptop chassis ground you are going to have a problem. Then you will need a 110v inverter to the stock Toshiba switching power supply. Other than that, any minor current differentials will not hurt the interface or interrupt communications.

I have run my Toshiba laptop with everything from +12 direct into the power plug, el cheapo 110v inverter, to a long extension cord in my garage. Just make sure there are no ground fault issues when using house current.


Ken