Distribution Panel Surge Protection

Transient Protection Design Distribution Panel Surge Suppression is ideal for distribution panel and branch panel applications.  Compact design offers easy installation. The optional enhanced transient filter will extend your equipment life and reliability.

The Importance of an EMI/RFI Surge Filter

While the filter does not help against direct lightning strikes and is not as critical in protecting electromechanical devices such as pumps and motors, it is critical in protecting sensitive electronic loads from internally generated ring wave transients. Also, normal load switching of equipment on any panel can surge the loads on the other circuits if no suppressor is placed on that panel. Our units feature filters that are specifically designed to address high frequency internally generated ring wave transients (sometimes referred to as spikes).

In the real world, 80% to 99% of transients are generated inside the facility, almost all are low magnitude, and all propagate throughout the facility as ring wave transients (impulse transients are transformed into oscillatory ringing transients as they move throughout the facility because of the impedance inherent in building wiring). Without a good filter, these transients will adversely affect electronics since almost all ring wave transients would be below the turn-on point of the avalanche diodes and MOVs (metal oxide varistors) that are the main components used in surge suppressors on the market today. Most of the ring wave transients we have seen inside the facility range from 200 volts to 900 volts, with most being in the 200 to 400 volt range. It is the cumulative effect of these internally generated transients that degrade and shorten the life of electronics, including LED drivers. And, these ringing type transients can also cause glitches, lock-ups, and reprogramming issues in PLCs and other electronic equipment.

We assume that most customers interested in the performance of an SPD would want to know how their SPD is going to perform relative to the fact that 80% or more of the transients are internally generated in their facility. This is more critical every year given the explosive growth in micro-processor based/data intensive applications in all of our facilities. Real world transient filtering is imperative for achieving sustainable performance and reliability of these loads.

Externally generated transients such a lightning happen infrequently. But, as long as equipment is operating, internally generated transients are occurring inside a facility and causing gradual degradation to all electric loads. Cleaning up these high frequency but low magnitude ringing transients is the key to reduced maintenance costs, reduced glitches and reprogramming events, and reduced downtime. Most electronic equipment is connected to subpanels or found inside industrial control panels or industrial machines. So, the better the ring wave protection of the SPD protecting the three phase power feeding the panel, the LED lighting, or CNC or other industrial machine, the greater the savings to the facility and the quicker the return on investment.

PDF – Casinos – extended bulbs/ballasts life…reduced downtime & circuit board replacement
PDF – Gas & Convenience – eliminate system reboots & loss of CRIND sale authorizations
PDF – Hospital Imaging Equipment – protect mobile imaging systems…filtering to protect ultrasound unit
PDF – Stone Quarry – scales & data processing…reduce yearly electrical maintenance costs by 33%
PDF – Schools – Protect equipment for carpentry, machining, millwright, hair styling & computer classes