Phoenix Contact RF Surge Protectors
Transceiver systems in remote locations are particularly susceptible to surge voltages resulting from lightning strikes or nearby strikes. Antenna cables which extend beyond the building and are very long, as well as the antenna themselves, are directly exposed to lightning strikes. For this reason, cables with a coaxial structure are used. The shield of the antenna cable can either be grounded or floating, however, the risk of surge voltage coupling in the antenna cables is not completely eliminated. Surge voltages can reach the sensitive interfaces of transceiver systems through the cable path.
Phoenix Contact RF surge protectors are equipped with powerful gas-filled surge protective devices or with the Lambda/4 technology. The Lambda/4 technology uses a short circuit between the inner conductor and the shield. The length of the cable between the short circuit and the inner conductor matches the frequency that is allowed to pass through without attenuation. Lambda/4 protective devices can transmit relatively wide bandwidth signals, from 0.8 - 2.25 GHZ, while achieving a very good (low) voltage protection level.
More Information about Phoenix Contact RF Surge Protectors
Phoenix Contact RF surge protection devices for radio and television receivers are mounted between the antenna wall connection and the outgoing antenna cable. For satellite receivers, there are multi-channel protective devices for wall mounting. Satellite receivers are connected using F connectors and broadband cable and antenna connections are generally TV and RF connectors. As a general rule, coaxial attachment plugs that are used with protection devices have BNC or TNC connectors. N, SMA or 7/16 DIN connectors are used with protective devices for various radio link technology.
Surge Suppression Basics
A power surge is a spike in voltage that can enter an electrical system. These spikes are typically very brief, lasting no more than just thousandths of a second. However, they can still cause damage to any connected devices in the electrical system. By using a surge suppressor, the majority of the problems from these transient surges can be eliminated. Surge suppressors provide this protection by either blocking or shorting the voltage over its operating limit to ground. This will allow the surge suppressor to protect any electrical equipment wired downstream. They are a very cost effective method for protecting expensive electrical equipment.
The first level of surge suppression is located closest to the input power in an electrical system. The next level of surge protection is branch circuit protection or where surge suppressors protect multiple devices in a location. The last level of protection is individual protection. In the case of an industrial control panel, this would be for every instrument that is entering the panel.