THE ULTIMATE LIGHTNING SURGE PROTECTION FOR COMPUTERS
AND ALL SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT
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INTRODUCTION
The term "surge arrester" is frequently misused to
describe those small devices designed to be plugged
into one outlet to protect only that one circuit. The
proper term for such devices is TRANSIENT VOLTAGE
SURGE SUPPRESSOR which, under UL 1449
standards, is not required to satisfy, as is the SECONDARY surge arrester, UL criteria for overvoltage conditions caused by lightning.
TYTEWADD POWER FILTERS are superior secondary
surge and lightning arresters which passed
ANSI/IEEE C62.1 standards, exceeding the required
10,000 amp surge by withstanding an induced surge
of 15,000 amps.
TYTEWADD units are uniquely different in concept and
construction: they are UL listed and CSA certified for
installation Inside electrical entrance (service) panels to
protect all, rather than just one, of the circuits in a home or business. The design configuration of these units enables
them to recycle and dissipate, in 1.5 nanoseconds, over
voltage conditions of less than 10% above the rated current
entering a premise, as well as those lightning induced
surges of 15,000 amps or less. In other words, TYTEWADD POWER FILTERS literally readadjust electrical service disrupted by overvoltage conditions known as "surges
and spikes" and instantaneously restore that service to
normal.
The performance of surge arresters is determined by
two basic factors: the clamping capability (a term used
to describe the level at which a unit begins to suppress
and dissipate surges); and "response time" (literally
how fast in terms of time a unit can respond to the
surge and begin "clamping" it off or readjusting the
current to the voltage provided by the utility.) One
nanosecond is one billionth of a second, and is the
measurement of electricity in light feet per second. To
better comprehend such speed, consider one nanosecond as a wire 11.8 inches long. Many surge protection devices claim response times of five or more
nanoseconds. This means that overvoltages will be 59
inches past those surge arresters or suppressors and
into equipment before they begin to react. Inasmuch
as the breakers in an electrical panel react in approximately 3 million nanoseconds, it should be apparent
that electrical forces traveling at the speed of light can
cause serious damage given these extra fractions of
seconds.
SURGES AND SPIKES
These terms describe increases in the electrical power
entering a premise. A "SURGE" represents approximately a 3000 volt increase of longer duration than
the more prevalent and sudden "SPIKE", which produces 6000 volts or more above normal. In many
areas of the country, it is not uncommon to record
1,000 volt increases daily over the normal 130 volts
provided by the utilities
Causes of voltage spikes can be attributed to many
factors: switching or cycling of motors, particularly
during the time motors are operating equipment;
transmission lines, or other elevated metal objects or
structures, serve as transmitters or receivers of over voltage conditions; load switching by the utilities, or
lightning strikes several miles away, are conducted
into an electrical panel as large voltage spikes; under voltage conditions ("brownouts"), which will produce
high voltage surges when power is restored.
Regardless of the many reasons accounting for the
presence of overvoltage conditions, the fact remains
that they result in costly breakdowns and damage to
equipment and facilities. Repair cost, loss of revenue,
additional costs to reprogram computers are a few of
the many costs that, quite likely, will exceed the cost of
the surge protection devices.
COMPUTERS and PRINTED
CIRCUITRY SYSTEMS
One out of every five homes in the United States has a
personal computer; and, anymore, it is the exception
to find a business that does not utilize a computer for
much if not all of the firm's daily activities.
Like other sensitive electronic equipment, computers
benefit from solid state engineering consisting of delicate, densely printed circuitry unable to withstand, for
any length of time, the most moderate of surges.
Some of the more expensive computer systems provide an internal device designed to suppress rather
than arrest overvoltage conditions: rarely are such
devices intended to protect equipment against lightning induced surges, or are capable of clamping in
less than 5 nanoseconds, within 20% of the rated, or
provided, current.
In the broadcast industry, in addition to protecting
radio and television transmitters from lightning induced surges, TYTEWADD POWER FILTERS
have also elminiated surge related problems affecting
editing systems and video character generators.
LIGHTNING
Even though its origins are not fully understood,
lightning is nevertheless acknowledged as the most
unpredictable and destructive force or surge
existing. It bolts out of the sky killing over 100 and
injuring approximately 500 persons annually. It destroys homes and businesses, many times due to electrical fires, and damages expensive, Sensitive appliances and equipment. It accounts for more than a quarter billion dollars in property damage annually in the United States alone More than 90% of insurance settlements for lightning related damages result from lightning strikes picked up by power lines and transmitted directly into a premise.
Research has established that the average lightning
induced surge entering an electrical panel is usually
9,000 amps or less. TYTEWADD POWER FlLTERS are
designed to withstand surges of 15,000 amps. However, on those rare occasions when the surge exceeds
the unit's capacity the surge arrester will sacrifically
disrupt after the surge is arrested, causing a short
within the unit. When this short occurs the circuit
breaker to which the surge arrester is connected will
open. You might say that TYTEWADD POWER FILTERS "buy" valuable fractions of seconds, under
extreme conditions, to give circuit breakers the extra
time they need to trip and save downline equipment.
The following map illustrates the areas of the United States most at risk for lighting strikes.
Image Source: weather.com
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