The need for electrical surge protection devices is unquestionable when it comes to safety. These surge protection devices can help prevent expensive electrical equipment loss or damage. Other than this, these devices are imperative in ensuring safety.
Realizing why surge protection is valuable implies that you are fully aware of the dangers of voltage spikes or surges. These events can span from a few nanoseconds to a few microseconds, yet despite their brief duration, they can exert significant pressure on electrical devices.
Furthermore, many rules, such as the IET 18th edition standards, advise and recommend the installation of electrical protection in industrial settings. Transient voltage and power surges can pose a significant risk to people and equipment, so the importance of surge protection should not be disregarded.
What are Electrical Surge Protection Devices?
Electrical Surge protections ensure that surge voltage should not damage any electrical installation, equipment, or devices. In this way, electrical surge protection devices work in two capacities.
- They assist in limiting the surge voltage in terms of amplitude so that the dielectric capacity of the electrical equipment is not exceeded.
Electrical surge protection devices are usually installed parallel with the electrical equipment or between the conductors. An electrical surge protection device function similar to switches that turns off surge voltage for a short period. When this happens, a type of short circuit occurs. This short circuit lasts for the surge voltage event, which is only a few microseconds. In this way, the protected equipment stays unaffected and continues to function.
To be eligible for usage in related protection concepts, surge protective devices must provide stated protective functions and performance specifications. As a result, they are created, tested, and classed according to that country’s specific set of product standards. However, even after usage, proper operation and adherence to the protective function must be tested regularly, just as other safety-related components in electrical installations and electronic systems must be.
Types Of Electrical Surge Protection Devices
There are different types of surge protection devices, and it is critical to understand your alternatives when selecting a surge protector. The following are examples of common surge protection device types:
- Surge protector of type 1 (SPD): The electrical surge protection device is installed on the line side of the main service entry. Type-1 SPD is utilized for outdoor applications and has a current wave of 10/350 s. It guards against external power spikes produced by lightning or utility capacitor bank It is regarded as your home’s or office’s first line of protection. Based on the device’s life cycle, built-in alarm systems indicate when it should be replaced. It is also referred to as a secondary surge arrester.
- Surge protector of type 2 (SPD): The SPD device is installed on the load side of the primary service entry. A current wave of 8/20 s characterizes Type-2 SPD. It protects a branch circuit or a service entrance from leftover lightning energy, motor surges, and other surges.
Protect Your Home Appliances with The Right Collaboration
Power surges may wreak havoc on your home and electronic devices. However, surge protection techniques protect your property from short-term and long-term damage.
Investing in surge protection systems can help you save money, keep your electrical devices safe, and give you more peace of mind. It just takes a fraction of a second for electricity to potentially damage appliances large and small, resulting in expenditure and inconvenience.
