In today’s technology-driven world, surge protectors have become essential components in protecting electrical devices from voltage spikes. These devices help safeguard sensitive equipment in various environments, ensuring their longevity and performance.
What is a Surge Protector
A surge protector, often referred to as a surge protective device (SPD), is designed to shield electronic devices and communication lines from sudden voltage spikes. These spikes can be triggered by external factors such as lightning strikes, power outages, or fluctuations in electrical supply. Surge protectors work by redirecting excess voltage away from connected equipment, and directing it to the ground to prevent potential damage.
Importance of Surge Protectors
Lightning strikes represent one of the most significant natural hazards, leading to countless injuries and property losses worldwide each year. With the widespread use of electronic and microelectronic integrated devices, damage from lightning-induced overvoltages and electromagnetic pulses has become increasingly common. Therefore, addressing the protection of buildings and electronic information systems against lightning-related disasters is of paramount importance.
As the requirements for lightning protection become more stringent, the installation of surge protective devices (SPDs) has emerged as a crucial aspect of modern lightning protection technology. These devices effectively suppress surges and transient overvoltages in circuits and safely divert excessive currents, safeguarding both infrastructure and electronic systems.
Design Principles of Surge Protectors
The design and structure of surge protectors vary based on their intended applications, but they typically incorporate at least one nonlinear voltage limiting component. Common elements used in surge protectors include:
- Spark Gaps: These create a conductive path for electrical surges, allowing excess voltage to be discharged safely.
- Gas Discharge Tubes: These devices help divert surges by ionizing gas within a sealed tube, creating a low-resistance path for high voltage.
- Metal Oxide Varistors (MOVs): These components react to voltage changes, clamping excessive voltage and preventing it from reaching sensitive equipment.
- Suppressor Diodes: These diodes help protect against transient overvoltages by allowing current to bypass sensitive components during a surge.
- Chokes and Inductors: These components can limit current surges and filter out high-frequency noise, enhancing the protection of connected devices.
Where to use Surge Protector
Surge protectors are vital in multiple scenarios, including:
- Residential Areas: In homes, surge protectors can safeguard valuable electronics such as televisions, computers, audio systems, and kitchen appliances from damage caused by lightning or unstable power supply.
- Commercial Spaces: Offices are equipped with numerous electronic devices, including printers, servers, and computers. Using surge protectors can prevent equipment failure, minimizing productivity losses.
- Data Centers: Data centers house sensitive data storage and processing equipment that can be severely affected by voltage spikes. Surge protectors help maintain data integrity and security.
- Telecommunication Systems: In communication infrastructures, surge protectors can protect lines and equipment from external disturbances and power fluctuations, ensuring stable network operations.
- Renewable Energy Systems: Devices like solar inverters and wind turbines are susceptible to lightning and grid disturbances. Surge protectors effectively shield these systems, ensuring they operate reliably.
- Industrial Equipment: In industrial settings, heavy machinery and automation equipment frequently face electrical fluctuations. Using surge protectors can reduce the risk of damage and downtime.
How to Select a Surge Protector
- Determine the System Type: Choose the appropriate surge protective device (SPD) based on the specifications of the protected circuit, such as single-phase 220V or three-phase 220/380V (TNC/TNS/TT).
- Assess the Device’s Impulse Voltage Rating: Select the SPD’s voltage protection level (Up) according to the impulse voltage withstand level of the connected equipment. Typically, the impulse voltage rating for terminal equipment is 1.5kV, so ensure that the Up value is lower than this rating.
- Consider the Risk of Direct Lightning Strikes: Based on the installation method and the risk of lightning current being transmitted due to direct strikes, choose either a type I or type II SPD.
- Calculate the Required Discharge Current: Determine the necessary discharge current intensity for the circuit. Select an SPD with a nominal discharge current rating greater than the expected surge current for the circuit.
List of top 10 surge Protector Manufacturers
Schneider Electric SE
Website: https://www.se.com
Founded in 1836 and based in Rueil-Malmaison, France, Schneider Electric SE specializes in energy management and automation solutions worldwide. The company provides a wide range of products across four key business segments: low voltage, medium voltage, secure power, and industrial automation.
Schneider Electric offers various surge suppressor devices designed to protect systems from over-voltage and under-voltage conditions. To implement this protection, users can install a plug-in, point-of-use electrical surge protector. This device can be plugged into a grounded outlet or directly connected to the appliance for effective safeguarding.
Eaton Corporation Plc
Website: https://www.eaton.com
Established in 1911 and based in Dublin, Ireland, Eaton Corporation Plc serves as a power management company. It specializes in delivering energy-efficient solutions across multiple industries, including electrical, hydraulics, aerospace, vehicles, and eMobility.
Eaton provides a diverse range of surge protection devices and suppressors tailored to meet the requirements of both residential and industrial clients. These products play a vital role in reducing costly interruptions and safeguarding sensitive electronic equipment from transient surges caused by lightning, utility switching, and changes in internal loads.
Littelfuse, Inc.
Website: https://www.littelfuse.com
Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Chicago, the U.S.; Littelfuse, Inc. is engaged in designing, manufacturing, and marketing circuit protection, power control, and sensing products across the globe. The company operates through three segments namely, electronics, automotive, and industrial.
The company’s electronic segment offers fuses and fuse accessories, positive temperature coefficient resettable fuses, polymer electrostatic discharge suppressors, varistors, magnetic sensing products, and gas discharge tubes.
ABB Ltd.
Website: https://global.abb
Founded in 1883 and based in Zurich, Switzerland, ABB Ltd. specializes in providing technology solutions for digital industries. The company operates through five main segments: electrification, industrial automation, motion, robotics and discrete automation, and power grids.
ABB provides an extensive range of Type 1 and Type 2 surge protective devices that can be mounted externally or internally. These devices play a crucial role in minimizing expensive downtime and safeguarding sensitive electronic equipment from the harmful impacts of transients, which can occur due to lightning strikes, utility load changes, internal load fluctuations, and other factors.
CITEL Inc
Website: https://citel.us/en
CITEL, established in 1937 in France, is a globally recognized manufacturer of surge protection devices. The company is dedicated to providing innovative lightning protection and surge protection solutions. Its main products include surge protectors, photovoltaic lightning protectors, signal protectors, monitoring surge protectors, and AC power solutions, serving a wide range of industries such as telecommunications, energy, manufacturing, oil and gas, transportation, construction, and renewable energy.
CITEL designs many of its critical surge protection components in-house, including gas discharge tubes, thermally protected varistors, and high-energy varistor assemblies. This internal development ensures that CITEL possesses deep expertise in every detail of the components that comprise its surge protective devices (SPDs).
Phoenix Contact
Website: https://www.phoenixcontact.com/
Founded in 1923 in Germany, Phoenix Contact is the global market leader in electrical engineering, electronics, and automation. The company’s product range includes solutions for energy supply, device and machine building, and control cabinet engineering. In addition, Phoenix Contact supplies electronic interfaces, power supplies, automation systems based on Ethernet and wireless technologies, safety solutions, surge protection systems, and software tools, catering to installers, operators, and device manufacturers.
Their Type 1+2, Type 1+2 special, Type 2, and Type 3 surge protective devices deliver effective protection for electronic equipment. They provide convenient, ready-to-install solutions for all applications, from power input to end devices.
Zhongguang Lightning Protection Technologies Co., Ltd.
Wesite: http://www.zhongguang.com/
Zhongguang Lightning Protection, established in 1987, is a publicly listed company specializing in lightning protection. It is a global supplier of lightning protection products and a provider of professional lightning protection solutions, having authored and contributed to numerous national and industry standards. Zhongguang’s products and services span various industries, delivering high-quality, high-performance lightning protection products, integrated solutions for lightning protection systems, and comprehensive design and construction services for lightning protection projects in both domestic and international markets.
DEHN, Inc
Website: https://www.dehn.de/de
DEHN is a globally recognized manufacturer specializing in lightning and surge protection for low voltage power systems, measurement and control, instrumentation, communications, and information technology.
Chint
Website: https://chintglobal.com/
Founded in 1984, Chint Group is a globally recognized provider of smart energy solutions. Their Modular DIN Rail (MDR) products include MCBs, RCBOs, RCCBs, surge protective devices (SPDs), accessories, and consumer units. The MDR line offers a comprehensive range of MCBs, accommodating high current in a compact installation. Additionally, it features a wide selection of RCCB and RCBO specifications, along with complete accessories that allow for multifunctional combinations to meet diverse customer needs.
HIITIO New Energy Co., Ltd
Website: https://www.hiitio.com/
Founded in 2004 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, HIITIO is a leading manufacturer of electrical components in China. The company offers a diverse range of low-voltage electrical products, including MCBs, RCBOs, RCCBs, SPDs, switches, and more.
HIITIO is proud to hold prestigious certifications such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and IATF 16949, reflecting its commitment to quality, environmental sustainability, and occupational health and safety.
Bottom Line
This article provides an overview of the leading surge protector manufacturers in the market today, highlighting their expertise and the range of solutions they offer. It also serves as a guide to help you select the right SPD for your specific applications, whether in residential settings, commercial spaces, data centers, or renewable energy systems. With valuable insights into product offerings and selection criteria, this article aims to assist you in safeguarding your electronic equipment from voltage spikes and ensuring reliable performance across various industries.
For more details or to request a quote, please contact us. If you have any inquiries or need personalized assistance, feel free to reach out to our dedicated sales team at sales@hiitio.com. We are committed to providing you with expert advice and support for all your high-voltage fuse needs.
