INTEGRATED PROTECTION

SOLUTION
The 6 Point Plan
 SIX POINT PLAN
1. Capture the lightning strike to a known and preferred
attachment point.
2. Safely convey this energy to ground.

3. Dissipate the energy into a low impedance

grounding system.

4. Bond all ground points together to eliminate

ground loops and create an equipotent plane.

5. Protect incoming AC power feeders

6. Protect low voltage data/telecommunication circuits.

 Six Point Protection Plan

Point 1

Point 6

Point 5

Point 2

Point 4
Point 3
Approaches to Lightning Protection
Conventional Rods
and Tapes
(SYSTEM 2000)
FRENCH Standard
ESE Terminals
(SYSTEM 1000)

ERICO SYSTEM
3000 DYNASPHERE
and ERICORE
SURGE PROTECTION

5. Protect incoming AC power feeders

6. Protect low voltage data/telecommunication circuits

Consequences of unprotected
Power Systems!
Consequences of unprotected
Power Systems!

Insulation failure due to over

voltage surge
 Why Install Surge Arrester ?

 Sensitive Equipments Repair / Replacement

Cost
 Data Recovery Costs
 Non-Productive Operational Downtime
 Lost Commercial Opportunities
 Cost of Customer Dissatisfaction
 Risks of Continuous Lightning strikes
 Surge Protection

How surges enter facilities

Important Note:

Lightning not always about direct strikes

CHARACTERISTICS of TYPICAL SPD
AC Power Line
PROTECTION
5. Protect incoming AC power feeders
SURGE AND TRANSIENT
PROTECTION

- Will the Surge Protection I select protect the equipment it is designed to

protect ?

How long will the Surge Protection I select last ?

 KEY FEATURES TO SPECIFY FOR SURGE
PROTECTION

Factors to consider to ensure protection :

Suitably Selected Surge Rating

Correct “Let-through” Voltage, based on Exposure Level

Both these factors can be tested under laboratory conditions.

 KEY FEATURES TO SPECIFY FOR SURGE
PROTECTION

Factors to consider to ensure long product life :

Suitably Selected Surge Rating

Temporary Over-voltage withstand

(eg to UL1449 Edition 2)

Both these factors can be tested under laboratory conditions.
Selecting Surge Protection
Where to Install SPD for AC Powered
Equipments
Where to Install SPD for AC Powered
Equipments

 First Line of Defense: Primary Service entrance

Typical more than 100kA rating
 Further reduces low let thru voltages (SDPs)
Typical more than 40kA rating
 Sub circuits such as VSD less than 20kA rating
 ‘Point of use’ additional protection less than
10kA rating
 SURGE RATINGS SUMMARY

Correctly specified surge ratings will contribute

towards =>
Reliable protection
of equipment over a
longer period of time
 TEMPORARY OVER-VOLTAGE

S P D in C onduction TO V C ondition
N om inal C lam ping
Voltage on 50/60 H z
N om inal A C M ains
O perating Voltage
 TEMPORARY OVER-VOLTAGE

When a MOV is subjected to Over-voltage, it begins to conduct current.

This causes energy to be dissipated in the MOV and eventually causes it to fail,
typically to a Short Circuit.

This causes a large amount of Current to flow into the failing product, only limited
by the Power Supply’s ability to deliver current (Prospective Short Circuit
Current).

The product then often “blows” open circuit causing arcing and potential fire
hazard.

A design challenge is to avoid this explosive fire hazard!

 UL 1449 over-voltage tests

Product first tested with 110% of nominal

voltage for 7 hours
Then tested with 125% nominal voltage for 7
hours (now eliminated)
Finally, 7 hour safety test with full phase
voltage. i.e. 240V products used on
240/415V systems are tested with 415V
Passing UL “full phase voltage” test

High voltage MOV's

Increased voltage let-through to equipment!
Containment
Smoke in the box is not allowed out
Thermal fuses
Safe, but permanently disconnects protection!
TD technology
Meets UL requirements and continues to
provide transient protection after an over-
voltage event
 TRANSIENT DISCRIMINATING

Low SPD
voltage clamping

TD technology.
clamping
 Abnormal Over-Voltage

ERICO design features to address Abnormal Over voltage involve three factors:

 Transient Discriminating Technology

 Thermal Fusing

 Over current Fusing

 1) TD Technology

Low SPD
voltage clamping

TD technology.
clamping
 2) Thermal Fusing

This approach uses the heat of the failing SPD to cause a disconnection to
occur. This is usually accomplished by allowing a soldered connection
to melt and spring open.
 3) Over current Fusing

This approach uses a more familiar fuse to disconnect the product. The fuse used here is a special design that:

Has high Current Interrupting Capacity (kAIC)

Will pass high surge currents, but

Will open quickly on AC follow-on currents!

 Application of SPD’s
for AC Power Systems

Before applying SPD’s to AC Power Systems,

we first need to determine the type of
power system, commonly used:
TN-C-S
TT