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Surge arresters are the perfect safeguards for your electrical systems. They direct any excessive current to the ground in the case of a surge to make sure your equipment is safe. In this guide, we will explore the different types of surge arresters and their working principle.
Power surges are the silent threats to your electrical systems. They may come from lightning strikes, switching operations, or grid fluctuations. Even when a minor surge occurs, your systems gradually fade away. Severe surges may result in system outages and, in extreme circumstances, fire risks.
Surge arresters prevent damage to transformers, circuit breakers, and electronics. They maintain a continuous functioning and constant power supply. Moreover, they enhance protection as they mitigate the risk of fire and electric shocks.
Surge arresters are classified by the voltage range they are designed to protect. Each of them is designed according to different insulation levels, discharge capacity, and application scope.
These surge arresters are designed for systems with a low voltage level. The range is typically below 1kV (often 120V, 230V, 480V). They are used in residential homes to protect consumer electronics and small offices. These types are compact-sized, affordable, and can easily be installed in their respective location.
Low-voltage arresters use Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) technology. When the voltage is greater than the standard level, the MOV provides conductivity. It diverts the surge that would have destroyed your equipment on the ground. Once the voltage level is normal, it stops conducting and acts passively.
These surge arresters are rated for systems with medium voltage levels, within the range of 1kV to 69kV. They are utilized in large buildings and substations as well as industrial factories. They have greater thermal resistance, guarding transformers and stability poles. They have high energy absorption and durable construction.
These surge arresters use zinc oxide elements without gaps. These zinc oxide blocks are mounted on insulators to ensure isolation when there is a surge.
These are the types of surge arresters made for high voltage systems, those above 69kV. Some are as high as 800kV, like those in transmission grids. They are fitted on power lines, transmission networks and other critical infrastructures. They are installed with discharge counters and high mechanical and electrical endurance with the aim of providing grid reliability.
Such arresters are made up of many MOV blocks or silicon carbide elements connected in series. Sometimes, they are combined with grading rings to manage even power distribution. They accommodate dead-front lightning strikes, rectify high fault currents, and offer strong protection.
Our high-voltage surge arrester is ideal for distribution lines. Its protection and stability has been enhanced for greater performance.
Metal oxide surge arresters (MOSA) contain a nonlinear metal oxide disc element. Each disc contains a powdered zinc oxide material mixed with other metal oxides. These arresters have excellent thermal energy and can withstand overvoltages. They operate like a fast-speed electronic switch for faster response times. They have low power losses under steady operation.
At the normal level, the arrester acts as an insulator. When a surge happens, the arrester acts as a conductor. Its resistance slowly decreases so that excess current can be redirected to the ground. They commonly have no series gaps due to their low leakage current.
Our metal oxide surge arrester is a gapless type of surge arrester with a polymer housing. It has good sealing abilities to enable stable operation. It helps to protect distribution systems from overvoltage. Nevertheless, the power frequency voltage across the terminals of the arrester should not be greater than the MCOV of the arrester.
As a combination of silicon and carbon, these arresters require series gaps to isolate them during steady-state operation. They use valve-type resistors with spark gaps. When a surge occurs, the spark gaps act as a conductor, reducing the energy absorbed during operation.
These gaps allow for shorter arrester length and reduce voltage levels. Although an arc is formed in the gap, it has an effective quenching mechanism to protect the valve element against the continuous current flow. This causes normal operations to resume.
This is an older technology of surge arresters. Thus, it has slower response times and higher leakage currents than metal oxide arresters.
These arresters are suitable for voltage systems within the range of 3kV to 684kV. They are mounted in high-voltage substations and power plants, where they shield big equipment. They possess large discharge capacity and are meant to be used in critical infrastructures.
They are designed to handle large surges and electric faults. Additionally, they are considered the best expulsion device for high voltage. They are installed outdoors, in areas exposed to harsh environmental conditions. They are built with zinc oxide blocks to exhibit excellent mechanical strength and endurance.
These types of surge arresters are used for overhead transmission lines. They are weatherproof, which renders them flexible to outdoor mounting. They reduce line outages and prevent flashovers in sensitive equipment.
They utilize metal oxide varistors to offer maximum protection. These MOVs are insulators, which have high resistance in the normal state. During a surge, the MOV's resistance drops gradually and becomes conductive. This act diverts excess energy away from equipment into the ground.
As the name suggests, these arresters are installed indoors, in residential homes and offices. They are compact-sized and lightweight, offering protection to electrical appliances and consumer electronics. They are also affordable and easy to install, strategically placed in home panels and wall panels.
They are equipped with MOVs that act as a voltage-transient switch. The resistance is high when power is stable, but it gradually decreases as it becomes unstable.
For instance, our surge arrester for indoors enables stable performance for indoor use. It is lightweight and has pollution resistance to give protection. Its nonlinear characteristic helps it achieve the effect of protection. It is in good working condition and will safeguard your equipment from damage.
These arresters provide medium protection to medium-voltage networks. They are rated for systems within the voltage range of 1kV to 36kV. They are installed on distribution lines and pole-mounted transformers, like beneath oil, elbow, and cubicle-mounted.
They are grouped into normal-duty arrester, heavy-duty arrester, riser-pole arrester, and evolution arrester.
Normal-duty arrester is used in areas with fewer lightning strikes. A heavy-duty arrester is used in areas with higher lightning strikes. The riser pole arrester is used to stop voltage surges whenever the distribution line travels from overhead to underground. The evolution arrester is used for all overhead systems.
These arresters are suitable in outdoor applications. They cover a wider region and are mostly intended to shield equipment against direct lightning hits. They are installed at points of entry in power lines where they redirect lightning-induced spikes to the ground.
As the name implies, they are compact-sized and ideal for mobile units and testing stations. They can also be used on temporary installations and field units. With their easy installation, they can be deployed and removed at will.
They operate on plug-and-play MOV devices that protect outdoor components from electrical surges.
These kinds of arresters have higher nonlinear resistance and are ideal for general-purpose protection. They have MOV blocks that protect consumer electronics from damage and breakdown. These MOV blocks can be voltage-controlled switches applicable in low and medium-voltage applications.
Our 12kV metal oxide surge arrester has superior protection performance. It has no discharge gap but uses the nonlinear characteristic of zinc oxide to discharge current. It is applicable for power transmission and distribution systems. Furthermore, it can be easily installed and maintained.
These surge arresters are designed for DV voltage ranges. They are used outdoors on solar panels, wind turbines, solar farms, and photovoltaic systems. Because these systems are located in areas prone to lightning strikes, these surge arresters have properties that make them resistant to UV rays and other harsh weather elements.
They also protect inverters from solar arrays and DC surges. They are smaller in size compared to other high-voltage arresters and are affordable.
These kinds of arresters provide medium protection to substation equipment and industrial use. Their voltage ranges are 3kV to 120kV, a range typical in dry-type transformers.
Their principle of operation resembles that of a station class, only that they are built to accommodate moderate electric faults. They have lower discharge ratings but high fault current resistance capability.
These arresters are designed to handle voltage below 1000V or 1kV. They protect your equipment from secondary surges, that is, those that may occur from switching operations or grid fluctuation. These usually occur on the lower voltage side of a transformer.
They offer a low-resistance path to ground in order to divert excess current in a surge. Thus, your equipment is safe and stable. The transformer itself is safeguarded from damage. The protection from surges reduces the risk of transformer failure.
Before you choose a surge arrester, you need to consider your budget. Some arresters are cost-effective and affordable, suitable for small-sized equipment. However, you should balance cost with protection level.
Arresters that are affordable do not offer a higher protection level against extreme surges. Those that are expensive may have an initial cost, but they can guarantee maximum protection even in extreme cases.
You should also evaluate the cost of replacement. The value of the equipment you are protecting will determine the kind of surge arrester you'll get.
It is important to consider which systems are more prone to power surges and need the most protection. Critical equipment like computers, TVs, and medical equipment needs surge arresters that can provide a moderate level of protection.
For equipment that is highly sensitive to surges, like transformers, substations, and solar farms, they need an arrester that can offer a high production level to keep them safe.
You should also consider if your geographical site has frequent lightning strikes and massive surges, and get an arrester that will handle the problem accordingly. For areas that are not highly prone to such faults, you may choose to get an affordable arrester with low to medium-voltage protection.
You should evaluate if your system requirement matches those of the surge arrester you're getting. For instance:
Ensure the arrester rating is the same as your system voltage.
Check that the energy absorption capacity is a perfect fit for your system. For basic protection of equipment, you'll need an arrester that has 500 - 1000 J. For medium protection of consumer electronics, you'll need an arrester of 1000+ J. For high protection of sensitive equipment, you'll need 2000+ J. The higher the better.
Evaluate the fault withstand capacity and the fault current levels.
Use arresters that are simple to install and maintain. In areas where a delay can cause operational troubles, such as transmission lines, data centers, and communication networks, it is important to choose arresters that will minimize downtime during replacement. It is also vital to choose an arrester that requires minimal upkeep.
Ensure the surge arrester has multiple outlets for several devices. Consider those that are compatible with plug types. In case of residential buildings using low-voltage systems, an arrester with multiple outlet numbers and USB ports to charge devices is preferable.
This is the voltage level at which the excessive energy is put onto the ground so that it does not damage the equipment. Get an arrester with a lower clamping voltage because this means it will react faster to a surge. You can choose a clamping voltage of 400V or lower.
This is the time that the arrester can react to a spike in volts. It is crucial that arresters act on time as conductors when a surge occurs. Arresters with faster response times ensure that your equipment is protected sooner. Some can respond in microseconds, and other modern ones can even respond in nanoseconds. The sooner your arrester responds, the better it will be for your equipment.
Before you get an arrester, check for certifications.. An uncertified arrester can fail when there is a surge. Certified arresters may be more expensive than others, but they will be beneficial in the long run.
Consult experts to give you the best solution for your needs. They can ensure that your arrester meets safety standards. Experts at Haivol Electrical have a wealth of experience to handle your electrical issues. We also offer technical support and after-sales service so that you're not left hanging. Our end-to-end solution does not stop at the sales level but extends to remote advice and delivery.
Surge arresters are mainly composed of metal oxide varistors. These are composed of zinc oxide and other metallic powders that protect electrical equipment from power surges. Surge arresters also comprise housing made of insulating materials like silicone rubber or porcelain, and terminals to protect electrical systems.
A type 3 surge arrester is typically considered a surge protector device. The SPD protects electrical equipment from overvoltage. It is installed close to the equipment it is safeguarding to provide a final layer of protection. They handle low to medium surges that bypass type 1 or type 2 SPDs.
A type 2 surge arrester of type 2 SPD protects equipment from transient overvoltages. They are overvoltages that are generated as a result of a lightning strike or switching operations within the grid. They are installed in distribution panels to protect against surges that may have passed the initial protection stage (type 1 SPD).
The two main types of power surges are internal and external surges. Internal surges are those that occur within the facility. External surges are those caused by external forces such as lightning strikes. Surges are also grouped according to causes - lightning strikes, switching operations, and electrostatic discharge (ESD).
A power surge is defined as a voltage exceeding 169 volts. A household surge could be around 120 volts. Surges could fluctuate, but any value exceeding any of the numbers mentioned is considered a surge. These surges can destroy equipment.
Surge arrestors are very crucial in safeguarding delicate devices. With the various types of surge arresters, you may be confused about which one to choose. Let us at Haivol Electrical help you. After considering your needs, risk assessment, and system requirements, we can provide full SPDs that will fit your needs. Contact us now.
MOV - Metal oxide varistor
MCOV - maximum continuous operating voltage
kV - kilovolt, unit of electric potential
SiC - Silicon Carbide
J - Joules
SPD - surge protection device
ZnO - Zinc Oxide
MOSA - Metal Oxide Surge Arrester
ESD - Electrostatic discharge
