Why is it a good idea to invest in a surge protector?
According to the Energy Hub, a study led by the Inter-American Development Bank in collaboration with other international energy organizations found that the demand for electricity in Latin America and the Caribbean has increased by 72 percent over the past 20 years. The largest consumer is the industrial sector (43 percent), followed by the residential sector (27 percent) and, finally, the sales and service sector (21 percent).
Sudden voltage spikes and sags can ruin the electronic equipment and machinery used in the above sectors. These abrupt changes in electrical power affect circuits, electronic components and motors, leading to outages and costly breakdowns.
This is why it’s recommendable to invest in surge protectors, as these devices can mitigate the effects of these fluctuations and protect the essential equipment in your home or business.
Bear in mind that surge protectors act as a barrier between the power source and the connected equipment, absorbing and grounding any excess voltage.
In this article, you’ll learn about the characteristics of the different types of surge protectors on the market, as well as the solutions that are available to various industries.
What effects do voltage spikes have on your equipment?
First, you should be aware that voltage spikes or transients are sudden, brief increases in the voltage level of the power grid. They may be the result of events such as lightning, grid changeovers or the startup and shutdown of high-power equipment.
Every time a transient occurs, electronic equipment and machinery can suffer malfunctions, internal failures and even permanent damage, leading to significant delays and losses in production and workflow.
In the industrial sector, where operations are highly dependent on electricity, even the slightest disturbance in the power grid can cause considerable damage.
Therefore, it’s highly recommendable to use good-quality surge protectors and give them regular maintenance to ensure their efficiency and continuous protection against voltage fluctuations.
What types of surge protectors are available?
Considering the wide range of models on the market, you may be wondering which one is your best option. Surge protectors fall into four main categories: standard, DIN rail, modular and load center.
Standard surge protectors
Standard surge protectors go between the power source and the equipment you want to protect. In general, they take the form of a circuit board or power strip, enabling you to connect multiple devices at the same time.
As their capacity to suppress voltage spikes is usually limited, they can only manage moderate power surges. Their main purpose is to protect sensitive electronic equipment from the kind of voltage spikes that commonly occur in the power grid, such as those caused by changeovers or voltage fluctuations.
However, please note that standard surge protectors don’t offer full protection against all types of voltage spikes, especially those resulting from high-intensity lightning strikes.
To protect yourself fully against these atmospheric events, it’s recommendable to install high-capacity surge protectors and suitable lightning protection systems.
DIN rail surge protectors
A DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung) rail surge protector protects the integrated circuits and sensitive components of an electronic system against voltage spikes in the conductor rails. Consequently, the device connects directly to the live rails of an electronic system.
Voltage spikes can occur in this area for various reasons, including fluctuations in the power supply, load switching, EMI noise and electrostatic discharges.
It’s important to choose a rail surge protector designed to meet the specific requirements of your particular electrical system. This means that you’ll need to consider the working voltage, the maximum current, the response time and other relevant specifications.
Modular surge protectors
Surge protector modules provide protection against transient surges and voltage spikes that come through the power grid. For this reason, an electrician will install them directly in the electrical panel or breaker box to protect the entire electrical system in a home, building or industrial facility.
These surge protectors come in the form of compact modules that are mounted on a DIN rail in the electrical panel. This allows for quick, simple installation, as the modules are easy to connect and disconnect.
Besides protecting against voltage spikes, some modular surge protectors include additional features offering protection against such things as over-current, short circuits and overload. These features provide enhanced protection and help safeguard the electrical system in its entirety.
Load-center surge protectors
Surge protectors for load centers, also known as surge protectors for distribution panels, are devices specifically designed to protect the electric load centers in commercial, industrial and residential facilities.
An electrical technician installs them in the main distribution panel, connecting them directly to the power busses. Subsequently, they will detect and suppress voltage spikes coming through the power grid before they can reach the circuits and connected equipment.
Surge protectors for load centers can manage high-voltage currents and protect against a wide range of events, from basic voltage spikes to significant overvoltage, high-frequency transients and electrical noise.
Some of these devices may also include monitoring and alarm features to alert users of potential problems with the power supply.
The type and size of the surge protector you select will depend on the specific characteristics of your electrical system, including the load-center capacity, the main power supply voltage, the rated current and the connected load.
Don’t hesitate to invest in surge protectors!
To recap, standard surge protectors are devices that go between the power source and electronic equipment in order to protect the latter from common voltage spikes in the power grid.
On the other hand, DIN rail surge protectors are devices designed to protect the integrated circuits and sensitive components in electronic systems against voltage spikes in the conductor rails.
Modular surge protectors, for their part, are installed in the electrical panel or distribution box to protect the electrical system in its entirety. They may also include additional protective features.
Finally, load-center surge protectors are designed to protect the main electrical distribution panels in a facility.
It’s important to select the right type of surge protector for the electrical system in which you plan to use it. As we explained above, each type of surge protector is designed to provide optimal protection against voltage spikes, according to the needs of each specific user.
Make sure you choose the right type of surge protector for your most important devices to ensure that they function safely and reliably. If you have any questions or concerns, contact us and we’ll be happy to help you choose the best option for your particular situation.
