Presentation

On

Transient Over Voltage Protection

(Transient Over voltages created due to Lighting and Switching Surges)

Power Line Protection, Data Line Protection, Telephone Line

Protection, Signal and Control Line Protection

Marketed in India by Manufactured by

 PRESENTATION

Transient Over Voltage Protection

(Protection of Electronic Equipments from Surges Created due to a lightning or switching action)

Surge Protection – a topic that has become increasingly important in recent years as got wide presence
across industries. Costly electronic equipment, which is sensitive to voltage peaks on the supply, is no
longer found only in offices and factories, but in our homes as well.

Nowadays, highly- sensitive data processing, telecommunication and computer networks form the
back-bone of worldwide communications structures without which, no company can survive. Machines
and production lines are monitored and controlled by electronic equipments programmed for specific
purpose. Even many creative services are no longer conceivable without the aid of computers.

Common to all of them is their dependence on clean electrical energy, within tight tolerance limits and
on a continuous supply of power around the clock. For many years, OBO has been involved in the
development and production of protection systems which ensure a secure supply of energy, even under
unfavorable conditions and which prevent damages due to voltage peaks because of lightning strikes or
induced transients.

The range of OBO surge protection systems extends from basic mains protection to precision
protection, from data line and measurement and control system protection to Cathodic Protection of
pipe lines using isolated spark gaps, installed either centrally or decentralized.

In India, CEC partners of OBO Bettermann started marketing OBO products from year 2000 onwards.
At present, more than 50000 arresters are in service throughout India. CEC offers site studies,
preparing drawings and recommendations, supply, installation, commissioning and back up service for
complete range of OBO Surge arresters.
 Internal Lightning Protection according to IEC

Lightning current consists of a First stroke followed by a number of subsequent strokes. According to
IEC 61024 and IEC 61312, wave shape of the first stroke is calculated to be 10/350 µSeconds.

I
Main discharge Real measured lightning impulse
Simulated lightning impulse, 10/350 µs
-40

Period between the

discharges up to a few hundreds Secondary discharge
-20
Iimp of µs

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 t (µs) 1100

For testing and Evaluation equipments used for Lightning Protection, Lightning and surge waveforms
according to IEC 61312 are generated in the laboratory as shown below

60
Simulated lightning impulse, 10/350 µs
Simulated surge impulse, 8/20 µs
50

40
current [kA]

30

20

10

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
-10
time [µs]

Approximately 25 to 30 % of failures in electrical/electronic equipments are because of surges created

either by a Lightning or because of switching surges as per the data released by leading insurance
companies
 Water
Fire
6%
5% Analysis of about 9000 damages by
Negligence Theft leading Insurance companies
23% 7%

Other
27% Lightning and voltage surges
31%

Storm
1%
Lightning Peak Current and Frequency of strike: The maximum value of Lightning current can go up
to 200 KA as per IEC 61312 which is in the shape of 10/350 µ Seconds. Depending upon the
construction of building and its consequential damages when compared to accepted frequency of
lightning, lightning protection is divided into four classes.
LPC III and IV LPC II LPC I
Frequency of Lightning Occurance, %

25

20
LPC = lightning protection class to IEC 61024
15

10

0
0-10

30-40

60-70
70-80
80-90
40-50
50-60
10-20
20-30

90-100

120-130
100-110
110-120

130-140
140-150
150-160
160-170
170-180

190-200
180-190

Lightning amplitude [kA], positive and negative lightning strikes

Depending upon the protection class Air termination system, Down Conductor, Earthing, Equipotential
Bonding and Internal Surge Protection System has to be designed & implemented properly.

Protection Class
Parameter
I II III - IV
Peak Current I (KA) 10/350 µS 200 150 100
Charge of Impulse Current Qs ( C ) 100 75 50
Specific Energy W / R ( MJ / ohm ) 10 5.6 2.5
Negative Initial 100 % 100 % 100 %
Positive Strike 90 % 85 % 80 %
Sum of all Lightning 99 % 98.5 % 98 %
Lightning Current Distribution: According to the standards IEC61024 and IEC 61312, during a
lightning strike in a building having an external lightning protection, the lightning current reaches the
earth termination. A part of Lightning current goes to earth and remaining part gets coupled into the
building through conductive media like Steel reinforcement in Concrete, Earth Conductor Metal Parts
connected to earth etc.

50 %

50 %

The 100% of lightning energy breaks down as follows according to IEC61312:

50% of the lightning current will flow through the ground

50% of the lightning current will flow over the connected metal parts of the building (gets coupled into the building)

To protect electrical & electronic equipments inside the building, this 50 % of Lightning current which is
entering into the building has to be diverted to the metal parts which is connected from outside. (Metal
Water pipe, Metal Sewage pipe, Power lines, data lines etc)
Lightning Protection Zone: Building which has to be protected against Lightning Electromagnetic
Impulses is divided into various Lightning Protection Zones (LPZ). Equipotentialisation has to be
achieved at every zone boundaries. To achieve this, all metal parts crossing each LPZ boundary have
to be connected together during a Transient Over Voltage Condition to avoid failures. A potential
difference between metal parts (power line) has to be limited less than the specified values as shown in
figure.

• LPZ = lightning protection zone Electro-

LPZ1 Max. Allowed Potential Difference: 4 KV
magnetic
field LPZ2 Max. Allowed Potential Difference: 2.5 KV

1 Lightning arresters Requirement class 1

LPZ 0/E (Up<4 kV)
LPZ 1 2 Surge arresters Requirement class 2
LPZ 2 (Up<2.5 kV)
3 Surge arresters Requirement class 3
(Up<1.5 kV)
3 Up – Voltage Protection Level
PAS Class 1 according to IEC 61643 (Class B according to
2 VDE0675) arrester has to be used between Zone
Cable 1 Screen 2 boundaries 0 and 1 (when the power line enters into a
PAS building or main switch board). This arrester should be
capable of carrying 10/350 µS current pulses.

Earthing system
Screen 1 Class 2 according to IEC 61643 (Class C according to
VDE0675) arrester has to be used between Zone
boundaries 1 and 2 (sub switch board). This arrester
• PAS = Equipotential bonding bar should be capable of carrying 8/20 µS current pulses.
• Screen 1 = building screen • Screen 2 = room screen

When a power line enters from LPZ0 to LPZ 1, it has to be connected to the earth bus bar through a
surge arrester in order to achieve Equipotentialisation. This has to be done at the mains incoming
panel. Maximum Voltage protection level allowed for this arrester is 4 KV.

When the power line enters from LPZ 1 to LPZ 2, further surge arresters are required to achieve
Equipotentialisation at the zone boundaries. This has to be done in the sub switch boards. Maximum
Voltage protection level allowed for this arrester is 2.5 KV.

Class B: (Class 1 according to IEC 61643 as well as Class C according to VDE0675) is an arrester
which is designed to carry a lightning current of 10/350 µ Sec duration. Important parameters to be
taken care are Lightning Impulse current carrying capacity and Voltage Protection Level (Let through or
limiting or clamp voltage)

Class C: (Class II according to IEC 61643 as well as Class C according to VDE0675) is an arrester
which is designed to carry a Surge current in the shape of 8/20 µ Sec. Important parameters to be
taken care are Maximum or Nominal Discharge Current carrying capacity and Voltage Protection Level

Class D: (Class III according to IEC 61643 as well as Class D according to VDE0675) is an arrester
which is designed to carry a Surge current in the shape of 8/20 µ Sec as well as tested with a voltage
impulse in the shape of 1.2/50 µ Sec. Important parameters to be taken care is Voltage Protection
Level
Blowout type Spark gap works during a surge Current. OBO Encapsulated arrester & OBO Encapsulated and VDE approved
(Discontinued Old Design) discontinued blow out design Class B arresters in panel

Connection diagram for 3 phase 4 wire network SPD

F1
R
F2
Y

-: Back up fuse for Surge Arrester

F3
B

- : Incoming ACB/MCCB/SFU

- : Surge Protective Device

F4 F5 F6
SPD 3

SPD 2

SPD 1

- : Panel Earth
N
SPD 4

F1, F2, F3
F4, F5, F6

SPD
PE

PE

SPD’s are made with Spark Gaps, Metal Oxide Varistors(MOV) Silicon Avalanche Diodes(SAD), Gas
Discharge Tubes(GDT) or a combination of these devices

Spark Gaps and GDT’s: These are called as ‘voltage switching type’ SPD’s. The operating voltage
can be determined by the distance between the electrodes. Spark gaps are arresters in which two or
more electrodes in series are opposed to each other. The electrodes consist of incombustible material
(e.g. carbon or tungsten-copper). Spark gap based arresters used in power line between Line and
Neutral should be capable of interrupting the Short Circuit Current (also called as follow current)
 Electrodes

Spacers made from G

insulating material

V (kV)
V (kV)

1 4

0,5 2

t (µs) t (µs)
1 µS 1 µS

Input impulse Output impulse

Advantages – It can carry Very Large amount of Surge Current for a long Duration
Disadvantage – Need more time to react (about 100 nano sec), high follow Currents

MOV: (Metal Oxide Varistors) Varistors are ‘Voltage-dependent resistors’ with a highly non-linear V/I
characteristic. Their electrical properties arise from a large number of micro-varistors connected in
parallel and in series. The transitions between the micro-varistors can age under the influence of over
voltages. Varistors are called as voltage clamping type SPD’s

Electrodes
Epoxy resin
Zinc oxide

Source: Siemens Publication “Metallic oxide varistor SIOV”

Micro-varistor
tinned copper electrode
Intermediate phase
sintered zinc oxide grains with
additives of other metallic oxides
Ι = 10 µm
V (V)
V (V)

t/(ns) t/(ns)
Input pulse Output pulse
1)

Advantages – Faster than Spark Gap (approximately 25 nano sec). Limited current carrying Capacity
Disadvantage – Detoriation after every surge. Can create short circuit after a Maximum discharge current flow
Diode: Transzorb diodes (also known as suppressor diodes) are diodes that limit both positive and
negative over voltages. Because of their very fast switching performance (in the picosecond’s region)
they are well suited for use in precision and data line protection devices. These are also called as
voltage clamping type surge arresters

Current (A)

UC UB UR
Voltage (V)
URUB UC

U(V)
U(V)

t/(ps)
t/(ps)
Input pulse Output pulse

Advantages – Very fast response to surges

Disadvantage – Very low surge current carrying capacity

By using Surge arresters at various zone boundaries, Transient over Voltages created due to a
Lightning strike or switching surges can be limited below the Voltage Impulse with standing capacities
of the equipments in respective zones.

Impulse Voltages withstanding capacity and Insulation Coordination of Electrical / Electronic

Equipments

Electrical / Electronic equipments are categorized into four over voltage categories depending upon the
Impulse Voltage Withstanding capacity.

Determination of rated impulse voltage: The transient over voltages are taken as the basis for
determining the rated impulse voltage.

Over voltage categories: The concept of over voltage categories is used for equipment energized
directly from the low voltage mains (Three Phase 415 V AC or 230/110 V AC Single Phase). This
concept of over voltage categories is used in IEC.60364-4-443.
 Surge withstand voltage of insulation
Over Voltage category (Installation Category)

Staircase lighting

Lift
Apartments

415 V 230/415 V 230 V 230 V

6000 V
4000 V
2500 V
1500 V

IV III II I

Rated impulse voltage for equipment energized directly from the low-voltage mains
Rated impulse voltage
Nominal voltage of Voltage line to
the supply system neutral derived from
based on IEC 60038 3 Over voltage category
nominal voltages
a.c. or d.c. up to and
Three phase Single phase including V I II III IV

50 330 500 800 1500

230/400 100 500 800 1500 2500
277/480 150 800 1500 2500 4000
120.240
400/690 300 1500 2500 4000 6000
1000 600 2500 4000 6000 8000
1 000 4000 6000 8000 12000

Determination of rated impulse voltage: The transient overvoltages are taken as the basis for
determining the rated impulse voltage.

Equipment with these rated impulse voltages can be used in installations

For explanation of the over voltage categories ref IEC 60364 - 4 - 443

The / mark indicates a four-wire three phase distribution system. The lower value is the voltage line-to-neutral,
while the higher value is the voltage line-to-line. Where only one value is indicated, it refers to three-wire, three-
phase systems and specifies the value line-to-line.
Equipment of over voltage category IV is for use at the origin of the installation. Examples of such equipment
are electricity meters and primary over current protection equipment.

Equipment of over voltage category III is equipment in fixed installations and for cases where the reliability and
the availability of the equipment is subject to special requirements. Examples of such equipment are switches in
the fixed installation and equipment for industrial use with permanent connection to the fixed installation.

Equipment of over voltage category II is energy-consuming equipment to be supplied from the fixed installation.
Examples of such equipment are appliances. Portable tools and other household and similar loads. If such
equipment is subjected to special requirements with regard to reliability and availability, over voltage category III
applies.

Equipment of over voltage category I is equipment for connection to circuits in which measures are taken to limit
transient over voltages to an appropriately low level. Examples are protected electronic equipments.

Selection of rated impulse voltage for equipment: The rated impulse voltage of the equipment shall be selected
from corresponding over voltage category specified and to the rated voltage of the equipment as per the equipment
manufacturers catalog.

Installation Example: Office building

1) 1)
1. Lightning arrester B 2. Surge arrester C or Combicontroller B+C

1)
4. Appliance and precision protection D
Protection for Power Lines

Coordinated Lightning Controllers

MCD50-B and MCD125-B/NPE

Technology : Encapsulated Spark Gap

Normal Line Voltage: 230 / 400 volt, 50 – 60 Hz
Impulse Current (10/350µS) : 50 KA &125 KA
Voltage Protection Level : 1300 Volts
Response Time : < 100 Nano Sec
Max. Series Fuse : 500 A gL/gG
(only required if there is no such fuse already in the network)

For 3 phase 4 wire system 3 nos of MCD50 and 1 no. MCD125 are required

Lightning Controllers MC50-B and MC125-B/NPE

Technology : Encapsulated Spark Gap
Normal Line Voltage: 230 / 400 volt, 50 – 60 Hz
Impulse Current (10/350µS) : 50 KA &125 KA
Voltage Protection Level : 2 KV and 2.5 KV
Response Time : < 100 Nano Sec
Max. Series Fuse : 500 A gL/gG
(only required if there is no such fuse already in the network)

For 3 phase 4 wire system 3 nos of MC50 and 1 no. MC125 are required

Combicontroller V25 B+C

Technology : MOV for L to N and SG for N to PE
Normal Line Voltage: 230 / 400 volt, 50 – 60 Hz
Impulse Current (10/350µS) : 7 KA &25 KA
Nominal Discharge current (8/20µS): 30 KA and 50 KA
Voltage Protection Level : 900 volt and 1200 volt
Response Time : < 25 Nano Sec & 100 nano sec
Max. Series Fuse : 160 A gL/gG
(only required if there is no such fuse already in the network)

For 3 phase 4 wire type code: V25B+C/3+NPE-FS 320 volt consisting of line
to neutral arrester 3 nos and neutral to earth arrester 1 no mounted in a
common base

Surge Controller V20-C

Technology : MOV for L to N and SG for N to PE
Normal Line Voltage: 230 / 400 volt, 50 – 60 Hz
Nominal Discharge current (8/20µS): 20 KA and 50 KA
Voltage Protection Level : 1300 volt and 1200 volt
Response Time : < 25 Nano Sec & 100 nano sec
Max. Series Fuse : 125 A gL/gG
(only required if there is no such fuse already in the network)

For 3 phase 4 wire type code: V20-C/3+NPE-FS 320 volt consisting of line to
neutral arrester 3 nos and neutral to earth arrester 1 no mounted in a
common base
Surge Protection for Telecom, Data and Signal/Control Lines

OBO SPD’s are available for all above applications includes AS 400/TWINAX ,Ethernet10/100 Base
T(Cat 4,5,6), Centronix Parallel Printer, SAT TV, RS 232(V.24), RS 422(V.11),RS 485,IEC-BUS,
Analog Telecommunication (Fax, Modem), ISDN/DSL Telecommunication (Fax, Modem), Token
Ring(4/16/100), VG-ATM/Ethernet-Giga etc.

Depending upon the type of building i.e. building with external lightning protection installations or
building with over head line connection or building with roof mounted metal structures like antenna
there are three protection levels. They are

BASE COMBINATION FINE

PROTECTION PROTECTION PROTECTION

Sensitive Electronics and valuable data files are only secure if the building where they are kept is well
protected from surges. OBO offers a comprehensive range of proven and reliable systems, devices and
components for every area of lightning and surge protection. To make it easier to assign the data line
protection devices to the respective application, they are divided into three classes. Colors and clear
designations identify devices for basic protection (RED), combined protection (Blue) and Precision
Protection (Green).

Basic Surge Protector, from LPZ 0-2(Code letter-B; RED)

OBO basic Surge Protectors are lightning arresters of Class 1, Category D1+D2 according to IEC
61644-1 (Draft 1997), which contain a single/multi - stage protection circuit with powerful gas discharge
tubes. These devices are installed where the lines enter the building.

Combined Surge Protector, from LPZ 0-3 (Code letter-C; Blue)

In OBO combined Surge Protectors, transients are limited by gas discharge tubes and Transzorb
diodes, decoupled by resistors or Inductors. The devices conform to class 1+2+3, Category D1+C2 of
IEC 61644-21. With combined surge protectors, additional damping must be included in the lines. The
devices are installed close to where the lines enter the building. The distance to the equipment to be
protected should not exceed ten meters.

Precision Surge Protector, from LPZ 1-3 (Code letter-F; Green)

With OBO precision surge protectors, surge pulses are limited by Transzorb diodes. The devices are
earthed via powerful gas discharge arresters. Decoupling with respect to the basic and precision
protection is ensured if the line length between the basic and precision protection is at least five meters.
Precision protection devices should always be installed directly at the equipment to be protected.
When it comes to measurement & Control Systems protection we have the whole range from 5V DC to
220 V DC Power Lines and Signal Lines, 24 V AC to 230 V AC Power lines to Microcontrollers, 4-20
mA current loops etc

Protection of Measurement and Control Installations

Measurement and Control Installations are used in numerous applications, for example productions
firms, building management, heating systems, alarm installations, and so on. Coupled in over voltages
due to lightning and other causes pose a danger not only to control installations but to costly
transducers and sensors. A fault in control system usually leads to lost production and costly restarting
processes.

Measurement & Control units usually react more sensitively to surges than power supply systems. The
following factors must be considered when choosing and installing surge arresters.

Maximum Voltage of the system: The rated voltage and type of voltage(AC/DC) of the precision
protection device must agree with the system data.

Maximum Current: FRD device can only be used upto a maximum rated current of 0.2 A. FLD devices
can be used upto 1A.

Maximum data rate: The maximum bandwidth of FRD protection devices is around 20 kHz, & FLD
devices 10 kHz.

Are increased resistance permitted? Lightning barriers FRD have an internal 15Ω series resistor for
decoupling. In low resistance systems this may cause problems.

Do the lines come from outside the building and does the building have an external protection
installation? If the data lines enter the building from outside and if the building is protected by a
lightning protection installation, a basic protection device must be installed where the data lines enter
the building.

When broad-based and precision protection?

When combined protection?

Building that has to be protected Building that has to be protected

1. Broad-based
protection
application
device
2. Combined
3 protection
1 l > 10m 2 application
device
3. Precision
< 10 m
protection

EB EB
In use around the world
OBO BETTERMANN is a global group in thought and action. OBO products are used in all parts of the
world. Over 30,000 products have one thing in common: the OBO brand. OBO BETTERMANN offers
perfect solutions for all areas of electrical fittings. Practical and user-friendly, that's what matters to the
professional. And that's what OBO means. The guiding principle that is to go with the company into the
future: CONDUCTING ELECTRICITY, ROUTING DATA, CONTROLLING ENERGY. OBO Bettermann
is also very active after 90 years history and perhaps even because of it.

Transient voltage and lightning protection systems

Even small over voltages can disable sensitive electronic equipment, computer networks and computer-
controlled production systems in fractions of a second. For protection against over voltages which can
result from lightning or switching processes in electrical supply networks, OBO offers a wide range of
surge and lightning arresters for the international markets. These include not only devices to protect AC
networks of various voltage levels, but also special systems for data lines and telecommunication
devices, and protective modules for process measurement and control systems.

With the new Lightning Controller, OBO presents innovative lightning protection systems with patented
multi-carbon technology - The first modular spark gap for perfect integration into distribution systems.
The great advantage of the new units is that they have a fully encapsulated housing. This means no
more arcing! This completely eliminates the risk of fires in the distribution box due to sparking.

The OBO range of systems for external and internal lightning protection is also complete. All
components have passed the tests imposed by the Lightning Protection and EMC Technology Centre in
Menden and have the corresponding test marks and certificates.

Started in 1996 in Nagercoil to give special services to WIND Turbines in Nagercoil. CEC has become
the exclusive agent for the range of OBO over voltage Protection systems (TBS) in India in the year
2000. Now CEC is ISO 9001:2000 certified, having offices and representatives at various locations in
India. CEC supplies and services – OBO Bettermann Transient Over Voltage Protection Devices,
Ingesco External Lightning protection system according to NF standards, Spelsberg Electrical
Installation System, GE TETRA architectural LED lighting system.

CEC offers site studies, preparing drawings and recommendations, supply, installation and back up
service for complete range of External and Internal Lightning Protection System according to IEC and
NF standards.

With in a short span of 5 years, CEC had positioned OBO Surge Arresters as the customers most
preferred brand by technical support with competent and trained engineers by OBO, Installation support
at the site, Fast Deliveries at a competitive price
Our major Clients

1. Telecom – Reliance, Airtel, Hutch, Idea Cellular, TATA Teleservice, BPL Telecom
2. Indian Railways – Signaling and Telecom applications
3. Industry – Textile, Paper, Cement, Steel, for protecting AC/DC drives, PLC/ DCS and all other
Instrumentation products
4. Multiplexes, Office and Commercial complexes
5. Computer and Communication Centers
6. Banks, Hospitals, Hotels etc……………………………………

CEC/Presentation/internal/2006
Cape Electric Corporation
th
2/116, Tirunelveli Road, Plot No 234, 4 Avenue, Above Karnataka Bank,
Near Reliance Infocomm, Indira Nagar, Adyar Lajpat Nagar – 1,
Thirupathysaram, Nagercoil Chennai – 600 020. New Delhi – 110 024.
Tamilnadu – 629 001. Ph: 044 – 52074883/4 Ph: 011- 5172 7344
Ph: 04652 – 570130 / 131 / 132 Fax: 044 2440 2441 cecdel@capeindia.net
Fax: 04652 274352 cecchennai@capeindia.net
cecngl@capeindia.net

Mumbai - 98672 02144 Calcutta - 98316 88651 Bangalore - 98802 33211

98192 24501 94330 80897

Coimbatore - 0422- 2214270. Trivandrum - 94477 36896

Commercial enquiries: obo@vsnl.net OR sales@capeindia.net

Please refer TBS catalog for our complete product range of SPD (Surge Protection Device) and selection chart.