Surge Protection
Overview - Power and Data Surge Protection
Surge Protection goes by many names, SPD, TVSS, Surge Arrestor, Surge Protector. Most common is TVSS or Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor. IT equipment operates at low voltages such as 3 and 5 volts. The difference between a 1 and 0 is represented by pressence or lack of these voltages. As one can imagine a voltage spike will disrupt the data accuracy. Further the insulation protection between adjacent circuits in board level components is minimal. A voltage surge can easily destroy an electronic current.
Surges may be caused by:
- Lightning
- Utility Load Switching
- Power system motor starting and stopping
- Power Factor Capacitor Switching
- Internal building loads turning on or off
- Loads turning on and off at other power users on same electrical grid
- Semi conductor switching with UPS and variable speed drives
Application of surge protection may be done at one or more locations withing a facility. Most important is at building service entrance before surge current spreads throughout a facility. This is true for both data and power protection. When an organization has multiple services or buildings additional considerations need to be considered to prevent inter building data wiring from becoming the voltage equalization path.
Most TVSS is MOV based. Additionally silicon avalanched diodes may be incorporated as well as gas tubes. The surge current capability depends upon the ratings of these dcomponents. There are safety issues with TVSS and UL has specific requirements due to this. Many manufacturers add fusing internally to their TVSS to meet the UL requirements. Systems that do not require the fusing will be more reliable and effective at a site. Visit our Toshiba TVSS to learn about these higher quality TVSS.