RS485 networks provide the backbone for communications in applications ranging from industrial control systems to roadside traffic message boards, and is often the transmission protocol of choice because of its ruggedness. Even so, additional protection is required due to circuits and cabling being exposed to an extremely noisy environment. For example, large electric motors generate high current transients that can cause large differences in ground potential between the digital circuits communicating on a shared bus. These ground potential differences can exceed the RS485 common mode range and compromise transmission signal integrity and lead to system lockup or destruction of the transceivers. In high voltage environments, electrical isolation from the communication bus to logic controllers is regularly employed for human safety and equipment protection.

