Brochure/Catalogue

Is surge protection worthwhile?
Disaster from inside your premises
Wherever electricity is used, it must also be switched on and
off. The physical processes involved in a switching operation
cause many surge overvoltages than those from the sky.
Added to this are overvoltages caused by electrostatic
discharges or faulty switching operations.
These overvoltages are nowhere near as high as those of
lightning, but as they are generated directly in the lines,
they are also directly in the system and place a stress on the
insulation.
Protection would seem to be a matter of
common-sense
Our modern working lives would be inconceivable without
power supply systems, instrumentation and control
equipment, IT networks and much more besides. They have
become commonplace and we realise their signicance only
when they break down. The potential resulting scenarios can
range from a brief interruption at work, to bankruptcy.
Common sense should surely dictate good protection
against lightning or surge voltages.
Surge protection is a topic for today
Surge protection is an important aspect of electromagnetic
compatibility and is required by law. There have been
many technical improvements in this eld over the years.
The quality and quantity of surge protection systems have
increased. This is demonstrated by the statistics from the
umbrella organisation for the German insurance industry:
the annual total damages for the insurance of electronic
equipment has fallen slightly, despite the fact that more
electronic equipment is almost certainly being used and
electrical and electronic systems are becoming increasingly
complex, with the degree of integration also increasing.
Voltages that exceed the limits
Surges are voltages that exceed the normal values. These
normal values determine the insulation, which is designed
and tested according to the appropriate regulations.
The degree of insulation varies depending on the type of
electrical equipment.We therefore speak of ”insulation
co-ordination“.
An item for use with 230 V, e.g. an electric motor, is tted
with insulation tested with a few kilovolts. It is obvious that
a chip on a PCB operating with 5 V cannot have the same
dielectric strength. For this chip 10 V could mean disaster.
An analogue converter, relay and opto modules are not surge
protection components because they only provide electrical
isolation.
Surge protection calls for special knowledge
There are different overvoltage protection requirements
that need to be identied when undertaking insulation
co-ordination. The solution must include the capability to
conduct high voltages with high currents, just as safely
as small voltages with small currents. Therefore, surge
protection is a complex subject. It comprises of not just one
electrical component but rather several functional elements
combined in one circuit. This calls for special engineering
expertise – not just for the provision of functional surge
protection modules, but also for their utilisation, planning
and installation.
Therefore, this catalogue does not just present our products
but instead provides comprehensive information to help you
understand the subject of surge protection.
Destroyed component
Chapter W provides an overview of lightning and
surge protection.
A
A brief introduction to surge protection
A.32028840000