Surge Protection - Introduction to the Problem

The nuts and bolts of the world’s best Lightning Surge Protectors

More than 700,000 installations worldwide.

Understanding the Problem
Electric charges generated in a thunderstorm discharge to the ground with a current of approximately 20kA to 150kA.

Lightning induced surges occur in a cable as a result of rapid and violent changes in the magnetic field intensity generated around the cable.

The surge propagates in the cable, and instantaneously applies high energy to the electronics equipment connected to both ends of the cable.

Interline breakdowns occur when electronic components are directly hit and destroyed by lightning surges generated between two cable conductors connected to the equipment.

In discharge breakdowns, a lightning surge creates a very high potential difference between two conductors and ground.

As a result, a discharge occurs between some parts of the circuit and areas electrically grounded, such as the metal housing. Electronic components are damaged by some of the discharge current that flows through the circuit.

The effects of induced surges on connected equipment are more severe when the connecting cable is longer; the induced current is higher; or the equipment is located closer to the site of the lightning strike.

Every year lightning destroys many millions of dollars of sensitive
electronic equipment. Millions more are lost through extended
down time and the loss of production or mission-critical information.

That’s why companies around the world depend on in-line M-RESTER
Surge Protectors to protect both signal and power wires.

Surge Protectors absorb only the lightning surges with no
interruption of the instrumentation signal.

M-System offers superior protection and selection
across a side range of applications.

DC or pulse signal lines
Absorb lightning surges transmitted in 4-20 mADC and pulse signal wiring to ensure the line potential will remain at a low voltage.

Receiving instruments from thermocouples
Absorb lightning surges entering the temperature transmitter or a controller through the thermocouple and/or thermocouple transmitter wire.

M-RESTER Surge Protectors absorb only the lightning
surges with no interruption of the instrumentation signal.

RTD and RTD wire receiving instruments
Protect RTD transmitters from damage caused by surges on the RTD wiring.

Potentiometer and receiving instruments
Protect potentiometer transmitters from lightning surges that enter the wiring between the potentiometer and the transmitter in applications such as water level sensors and valve position indicators.

Pulse generating or receiving devices
Protect frequency generating devices such as flowmeters and frequency transmitters from lightning surges that enter the wiring between these instruments.

ON-OFF signal lines – eight channel capacity
Protect semiconductor switches used for ON-OFF outputs from the computer or PLC from lightning surges entering through the wiring.

Load cells (strain gauges) and wires, receiving instruments
Protect load cell transmitters from lightning surge damage that enters the wiring between the load cell and the transmitters.

Telecommunication lines
Protect telecommunications equipment from lightning surges entering through the telecommunication line network.

Twisted-pair cable lines for MsysNet, RS-422/485 lines
Absorb lightning surges entering through twisted-pair cables linking each MsysNet device or similar peripheral devices.

Power supply lines – small and medium load ratings
Wide range of units protect electronic equipment such as computers and telemetering systems from lightning surges that enter through substations and step-down transformers. Also effective in rejecting switching transients generated by thyristors, circuit breakers and motor starters.

Large instrumentation panels, computer systems or telemetering systems
Designed to protect large instrumentation panels, computer systems and telemetering systems in central control rooms or operations centers. ncorporates air-core reactors, large-capacity discharge elements and electromagnetic contactors. Thermal fuse, in parallel with the discharge elements, opens the operating circuit for the electromagnetic contactor, offering fail-safe protection in severe lightning strikes.