Surge Protection Techniques

Protecting your electrical outlets will prevent any dangerous hazards from occurring.

Surge protection is really important because of the nature of electricity. The computer becomes a useless object without electricity. Surge protection is a complex topic, as a lot of technology works behind the concept of surge protection. The upcoming technologies have the potential to change our view of power protection. Surges are pulses of high amplitudes. Their duration is millionths of a second. Surges can be caused by different means. Heavy duty equipment, short circuits, or power lines can cause them.

Things You'll Need

• Surge protector

Instructions

1. Use a photo coupler for electrical isolation, so as to transform an electrical signal into light and then re-transform the light into the electric signal.

   A surge suppressor has the ability to absorb high energy, and it does so instantly and effectively. It prevents damage that can be caused to connected devices by electrical surges, which can be provided by isolation.

2. Identify the two basic types of surge suppression products. The single stage devices use a single TVS or MOV for the protected lines. This unit is generally cheap and also small in size and offers protection against most transients if the ground connection is properly made.

   Three stage devices are more advanced. These units use three components on the protected lines. They can handle much larger surge currents. They also reduce the risk of undetected failures by providing internal self-protection. The first stage reacts slowly and requires large voltage before the conduction begins. But this stage can shunt very large currents. The second stage limits the current that flows into the third stage. Finally, a TVS device clamps at an acceptable voltage, and it also maintains that clamp until the conduction by the gas discharge tube begins.

3. Purchase a top-grade surge protector. The selection and installation of the surge suppression device plays an important role in protecting a system. If the proper grounding techniques are not followed, then a surge suppressor may become ineffective. You must invest in a good surge protector. It is always less expensive than replacing an electrical appliance.

4. Consult a transient or electromagnetic compatibility engineer for situations in which a surge protection is critical. A surge-protected plug strip is also an option. A simple electronic component MOV (metal oxide varistor) is installed in a plug strip. MOV detects a short and high millisecond range AC voltage and then it attempts to clamp the voltage. This way it protects the connected equipment. MOVs are available in different clamp voltages and also different energy clamp ratings. These are stated in the terms of joules. A higher joule rating indicates a higher quality of MOV.

References

• B & B Electronics: How Surge Protection Works
• ISA: Surge Protection