Surge Arrestors

Types of voltage surges

Voltage surges have different charactersitics

Atmospheric (lightning)

Switching

Types of voltage surges

Transient overvoltages: atmospheric several MHz; 1 to 100 s) switching (circuit breaker, motors, fuses, etc.) (100KHz to 1MHz; 0.05 to 10 ms) Temporary overvoltages: 50Hz with a duration of 0.03 to 1 second
temporary voltage surge

A voltage surge is characterised by its rise time and duration

Standardised impulse waves

Electrical equipment is tested to standard impulse voltages to determine withstand level

Standardised voltage wave 1.2 / 50s

Standardised current wave 8 / 20s

Impulse withstand voltages

All electrical equipment has an impulse withstand voltage

Surge protection devices

Serial protection device This is connected in series with the load to be protected. Parallel protection device This is connected in parallel with the load to be protected.

Filters, transformers, wave absorbers, network conditioners and static UPS. This type can eliminate network (temporary) or transient voltage surges (50-60-400Hz to 200kHz).

Surge arrestor/diverter most often used. Carbon spark gaps, gas discharge tubes, zener diodes, MOVs. This type eliminates high frequency transient voltage surges such as lightining impulses (MHz).

Surge arrestors

The voltage/current characteristic of the ideal surge protection device

Leakage current Residual voltage Energy dissipation

0 low high

The voltage/current characteristic of the metal oxide varistor

Leakage current Residual voltage Energy dissipation

low low high

MOV surge arrestor

Electrical characteristics of low voltage MOV surge arrestor

Uc: permanent operating full withstand voltage (MOV rating) leakage current typically < 1 mA

Ic :

Up: protection level (residual voltage):1 kV - 2.5kV rated discharge current. This is the peak value of the 8 / 20 s wave current that can flow through the surge arrester without any damage (20 shocks) this is the peak value of the 8 / 20 s wave current that a surge arrester can withstand (1shock)

In:

Imax:

Note: Imax or In kA not to be confused with rms kA fault rating

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MOV surge arrestor

Electrical characteristics of low voltage MOV surge arrestor

Auxiliary contact for remote indication

Thermal disconnector indicator flag

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MOV surge arrestor (diverter)

Operating principle

During normal operating conditions, the surge arrestor has a very high resistance (effectively an open circuit).
If a surge, greater than the flashover (trigger) voltage of the surge arrestor, appears on the network, the surge arrestors resistance drops to a very low value (effectively a short circuit) The surge arrestor will conduct the discharge current to earth whilst maintain the voltage (residual) at or below the protection level. Once the discharge energy has dissipated, and the network voltage is restored, the resistance of the surge arrestor rises to its initial high value. The type of surge arrestor must match the type of protection required, depending on the magnitude and frequency of the surge, and the equipment/ installation to be protected.

Vres

()

R high

R low

flash U

(U)

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Types of voltage surges

Voltage surges also occur in two different modes

Differential mode
Differential mode voltage surges circulate between phase to phase or phase to neutral conductors

Common mode
Common mode voltage surges occur between the live conductors and earth:phase to earth or neutral to earth

Dangerous for equipment which have an earthed frame: dielectric breakdown.

Dangerous to sensitive equipment: damage to electronic components.

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MOV surge arrestor

The surge arrestor is made up a protection element (MOV) and a thermal disconnector which deteriorates with energy dissipation and eventually ruptures.

Common / differential mode protection

Common mode protection

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Installation guidelines
L1 L2 L3 N

load

surge arrestor

MEN link
L1 L2 L3 N

Main neutral link Main earth bar

AS4070 recommends 6mm2 cables connections (as straight as possible) Installation as close to origin as possible Connected between supply side or load side of main switch and: - Neutral bar if installed upstream of MEN link - Earth bar, if installed downstream of MEN link Keep connecting leads as short as possible. Total length of active and earth should not exceed 1m. (50cm rule)

Upstream protection/isolation may be provided by MCBs or fuses (follow manufacturers recommendations.

May be connected to load side of RCD, if RCD is time delayed.
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Installation guidelines

1P and 3P devices connected upstream of MEN link (Neutral and Earth conductors are combined).

1P+N and 3P+N devices connected downstream of MEN link (Neutral and Earth conductors are separate).

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