With the advent of new technologies and next-generation innovations gathering pace, the Surge Protection Devices have become a must for all utilities and every load/application without any exception of being small or big.
In earlier days, the type of electrical and electronic gadgets we use at our homes, offices, industries, institutions, buildings, or other places were robust and were not much sensitive to the transient voltages occurring now and then because of any means like because of surrounding environmental effects like a short circuit, switching on and off of heavy loads, induced high voltages from the neighborhood or natural effects like that because of storms, thunderbolts, lightning, etc. The earlier technologies were not that sophisticated or sensitive to make these transient voltages create havoc on electrical/electronic applications.
Nowadays, most of the appliances, gadgets, and systems we use are based on microprocessors, microcontrollers, or other sensitive electronic circuits which are not robust enough to handle and sustain these transient voltages. This sophisticated technology gave rise to SPDs, the Surge Protection Devices. These SPDs either divert the transient voltages or block them from reaching the electrical appliances/systems, thus safeguarding our devices and systems from their hazardous effects.
Here, we are discussing the various types of SPDs available around us and the best practices employed to select the right SPD, as per our requirements. Just installing any SPD doesn’t safeguard our devices from the ill effects of surges and transient voltages, but the right type of SPD installed correctly at the right place in our electrical network can only safeguard our electrical/electronic gadgets and keep them safe and secure.
The Surge Protection Device is an electrical appliance that protects electrical devices/systems from transient voltages/spikes in alternating circuits (AC) and thus safeguards our equipment from being damaged/burnt/fried. It protects outlets from being overloaded and thus protects our appliances from power outages or blackouts.
These devices are also known as Spike Suppressors, Surge Suppressors, Surge Diverter, or Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors.
The 4 different types of Surge Protection Devices are as follows:
Type 1 SPD: These types of SPDs are connected at the origin or entry point of electricity in your premises, like that of the main distribution board or near the utility pole where electricity enters your premises. These are also known as service entrance surge protectors and are considered the strongest type of surge protectors.
Generally, these are located outdoors and help protect things from external power surges like that occurs from lightning. Many such SPDs come with some alarm/sound mechanism to alert the users when they need to be replaced.
Type 2 SPD: Such SPDs are installed at the sub-distribution boards or after the main SPD. Combined SPDs with Type 1 & Type 2 protections are also available and are usually installed in consumer units. These SPDs are installed to protect equipment from both large and small surges. These are available for residential, commercial, and industrial use.
Type 3 SPD: These SPDs are connected quite close to the load we wish to protect, like computers, TV, Refrigerator, etc. These SPDs plays a major role in protecting the connected appliances we want to protect.
Type 4 SPD: These are used to provide wired-in surge protection for all types of equipment devices. They are the best fit for protecting servos, motor drives, PLCs, etc. These are available in both types of mountings i.e. standard wall mounted to DIN mounted.
International Standard IEC 61643-11, and ANSI/IEEE C62.41 are the main standard all SPDs must comply with. These standards address the safety and performance tests for Low voltage surge protective devices. These low-voltage surge protection devices are designed for protecting low-voltage power systems.
The SPDs for data and communication lines entering any structure shall comply with
The SPDs protect the devices from sudden transient voltages. These devices either block the transient voltages, limit the transient voltages, or short it to the ground and diverts the surge current to the installed earthing network rather than permitting it to pass through the device and damage it.
The SPDs use metal oxide varistors (MOVs) or transient voltage suppression (TVS) diodes to limit the excess voltage. Such types of SPDs are known as Voltage Limiting SPDs. There are Voltage switching SPDs also, which include Gas Discharge Tubes (GDTs) and Spark Gaps.
These SPDs stay in a high impedance state in normal conditions. When they encounter any transient voltage, they instantly move into the low impedance state and divert the surge current to the connected ground/earth network. In this manner, it allows only the safe voltage to reach the connected appliance. After the transient is over it automatically resets back to the high-impedance state.
Yes, SPDs are a must in all Lightning Protection Systems. The SPDs protect our appliances and other equipment from transient voltages, which lightning arresters can’t. Without SPDs, all the installed electrical/electronic/digital systems are at a very high risk of being burnt out or badly damaged during lightning strikes or even other transient voltage surges.
Yes, SPDs can be easily wired in old electrical circuits/fittings/networks and installed Lightning Protection Systems. Talk to our experts, and they will guide you on how to do it without any hassle.
True Power manufactures the world’s best SPDs in compliance with the latest national and international standards. We manufacture all kinds of SPDs and have a proven track record of flawless performance of our SPDs for decades in protecting Lakhs of Electrical Appliances/gadgets of all types.
Talk to our Experts Today for any requirements about safeguarding your appliances from high voltage transients/surges.
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