This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. English
  3. Electronics / Elect Eng

ground-insulated vs. ground-isolated (masseisoliert)

English translation: floating

08:09 Jul 28, 2005
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Electronics / Elect Eng / piezoelectric force sensors
English term or phrase: ground-insulated vs. ground-isolated (masseisoliert)
Which term is correct? My customer uses both...
84574 (X)
Local time: 11:45
Selected answer:floating
Explanation:
IMO 'ground-insulated' and 'ground-isolated' are both unnatural in English. At minimum you should translate the German term as 'isolated from ground', but the common engineering term for this is 'floating'.

See e.g.

[PDF] Using Thermocouple Sensors
connection to both a floating and a grounded Thermocouple sensor. ... the floating sensor case. This is because the ground reference is established ...
www.cryocon.com/CCApplNotes/ThermoApps.pdf

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 41 mins (2005-07-28 08:51:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Further comment: the terminology depends a bit on the context. In a purely electrical/electronic context, \'floating\' would be understood to mean \'isolated from ground\', but in a mechanical/structural context (which may be the case here) it wouldn\'t be so self-evident, particularly as \'floating\' also has a mechanical meaning. In that case you could probably use \'ground-isolated\', although my personal preference would lean strongly to \'electrically isolated\'. I wouldn\'t use \'ground-insulated\' under any circumstances, and I would use \'insulated\' only if the devices in question are indeed physically insulated (e.g in some sort of package).
Selected response from:

Ken Cox
Local time: 11:45
Grading comment
My customer wants to stick with "ground-isolated". but thanks all the same, I will use your info for future reference.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +1floating
Ken Cox


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
floating


Explanation:
IMO 'ground-insulated' and 'ground-isolated' are both unnatural in English. At minimum you should translate the German term as 'isolated from ground', but the common engineering term for this is 'floating'.

See e.g.

[PDF] Using Thermocouple Sensors
connection to both a floating and a grounded Thermocouple sensor. ... the floating sensor case. This is because the ground reference is established ...
www.cryocon.com/CCApplNotes/ThermoApps.pdf

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 41 mins (2005-07-28 08:51:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Further comment: the terminology depends a bit on the context. In a purely electrical/electronic context, \'floating\' would be understood to mean \'isolated from ground\', but in a mechanical/structural context (which may be the case here) it wouldn\'t be so self-evident, particularly as \'floating\' also has a mechanical meaning. In that case you could probably use \'ground-isolated\', although my personal preference would lean strongly to \'electrically isolated\'. I wouldn\'t use \'ground-insulated\' under any circumstances, and I would use \'insulated\' only if the devices in question are indeed physically insulated (e.g in some sort of package).

Ken Cox
Local time: 11:45
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 128
Grading comment
My customer wants to stick with "ground-isolated". but thanks all the same, I will use your info for future reference.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Klaus Herrmann: Oh, I got the language pair wrong - I thought ground-insulated and ground-isolated had to be translated into German :). I usually translate floating as massefrei....
5 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search