Data & Signal Surge Protectors
Data surge protectors and signal surge protectors are critical components in ensuring the safety of delicate communication lines and low-voltage systems from dangerous voltage transients. These transients can occur as a result of lightning strikes, power fluctuations, or even electromagnetic interference. Surge protection devices are designed to absorb this excess energy and to divert it away from vital equipment that is necessary for reliable function and communication. Routers, switches, programmable logic controllers, and remote sensors all need surge protection to maintain reliable function. In the industrial, commercial, and IT worlds where signal transmission is crucial, signal surge protection is a key way to maintain the integrity of control signals, network performance, and general equipment functionality.
Signal and data line surge protection is commonly achieved with plug-in devices because of their ease of installation and maintenance. Pluggable surge protection devices can be mounted on rail systems or integrated into structured wiring enclosures, ideal for safeguarding against the multitude of high-speed signal line interfaces in use today, such as gigabit Ethernet, various RS-232/RS-485 interfaces, 4-20 mA loops, and many more common communication protocols. For that protection to be effective means that the signal surge protectors themselves are, in effect, very smart devices. They must know when to allow a signal to pass unaffected and when to divert to ground anything trying to get into the signal path that shouldn't be there. Most accomplish this feat with gas discharge tubes and transient voltage suppression diodes.
Phoenix Contact Data & Signal Surge Protectors
Polyphaser Data & Signal Surge Protectors
Transtector Data & Signal Surge Protectors
FAQs
Can a lightning surge arrestor ensure reliable operation of electronic equipment in critical systems?
Yes, a lightning surge arrestor can help ensure reliable operation of electronic equipment in critical systems by diverting high-voltage surges away from sensitive components, thereby preventing damage and maintaining system uptime.
Surge Protection Basics
What causes power surges?
Lightning strikes are one of the most common causes of power surges and can affect an electrical system even if the strike occurs miles from the electrical source. Conductors buried underground can still transmit the energy of the strike to electrical equipment located indoors. Lightning rods and other grounding equipment can help, but do not completely eliminate the risk.
Switching equipment such as motors, transformers and other equipment can cause a sudden change in load, power loss and disconnection of circuit breakers. This sudden switching can cause overvoltage, leading to power surges. The closer the switching occurs to the electrical system, the more threat it will pose to the equipment.
Operations that a user performs can cause surges, but typically have a very short duration. Examples include: starting a motor, opening circuit breakers and welding equipment.
What is the best way to stop power surges?
By using transient surge suppressors, the problems associated with most transient surges can be eliminated. They provide protection by either blocking or shorting the voltage over its operating limit to ground, protecting circuits downstream of the suppressor. The best way to approach this is in tiers.
Tier 1 – The protection is closest to the incoming power source. This is the main protection for a particular location.
Tier 2 – This is in an area that will be protecting multiple devices that have branch protection. An electrical control panel would be an example of this type of application.
Tier 3 – Individual protection. In the case of an industrial control panel, this would be protection for each instrument entering the panel.