October 17, 2011— Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories announced the SEL-2820 Fiber-Optic V-Pin Transceiver is available for $150. This transceiver allows instrumentation and control professionals to safely add isolated segments to multidrop and point-to-point EIA-485 networks separated by up to 500 meters. Also, connecting segments with optical fiber instead of copper wire improves safety, signal integrity, and reliability. The SEL-2820 is easy to integrate. The control dual in-line package (DIP) switches can be set for two-wire or four-wire, multidrop or point-to-point operation, and to control transmitter keying.
The transceiver operates over a –40° to +85°C temperature range and meets or surpasses electric utility and industrial type-test standards for instrumentation, control, and communications equipment. Add segments to EIA-485 networks by inserting an SEL-2820 into an existing network, and connect it via fiber-optic cable to an SEL-2820 that serves as the master connection point for the new segment. SEL-2820 optics are compatible with SEL-2800 Fiber-Optic Transceivers. An SEL-2800 can be plugged into the EIA-232 port of a master or remote device and connected via optical fiber to an SEL-2820 that is in turn connected to an EIA-485 network.
