Surge protection for MCR technology

PLUGTRAB PT-IQ provides multi-stage monitoring of the installed surge protective devices. At the same time, all voltage limiting components of the protective circuits are monitored. The controller supplies power to up to 28 protective devices. At the same time, it safeguards the group remote signaling function. A yellow status signal indicates that the performance limit has been reached as a result of frequent surge voltages. The surge protection continues to function and your system is still protected. When the status is yellow, replacement is recommended in order to avoid unnecessary service calls.

Green: protective device OK
Yellow: performance limit reached, replacement recommended
Red: overloaded, replacement required

The CLIXTRAB product family is designed for use in safety-related systems, for example, in the railway industry. The items consist of Push-in terminal blocks with knife disconnection and the corresponding surge protection plug. With the standardized accessories for the terminal block system, the items can be integrated perfectly into your new and existing installations.

Be on the safe side with CLIXTRAB: The powerful protective circuit featuring integrated overload protection provides superior system availability. The mechanical coding of the plug, which prevents mismatching, ensures safety during maintenance work.

Furthermore, the lightning and surge protection solution also provides quick and easy diagnostic options. You can easily monitor your devices remotely with the remote signaling function available as an option. By integrating CLIXTRAB into your digital infrastructure, you will be ideally prepared for the future. You can perform routine checks easily using CHECKMASTER 2.

SURGETRAB surge protective devices are designed for all common standard signals that are attached directly to the sensor head via their connecting threads. This mounting type saves time and money, and there is no need for an additional connection box for installing the surge protection.

Connection versions for through and parallel wiring are available. This allows you to connect the protective circuit in series or in parallel to the interface of the measuring element. Versions with parallel wiring require a second connecting thread on the sensor head.

Switching states and signal contacts are typical signals that are recorded with the binary inputs of controllers. The controllers also switch actuators such as solenoid valves. Use suitable surge protection to protect the sensitive inputs and outputs of controllers. The individual binary signals are often connected against a common reference potential. Typical arrangements that take into account this common reference potential are provided by what are referred to as 2x1 or 4x1 circuits.

If a measured variable is determined directly based on the resistance value of an electrical component, the additional impedances within the measuring loop play a special role. This affects, for example, temperature measurements with platinum resistance detectors (Pt 100, Pt 1000) as well as strain gauges with two-wire technology. As a rule, MCR surge protection products contain impedances in the common mode paths. If the impedances are introduced into the circuit without recalibration, the measurement result will be falsified due to the change in the total impedance. Circuit versions without additional longitudinal resistances simplify the installation of surge protection in applications of this kind.

Explosive atmospheres repeatedly arise in the chemical and petrochemical industries due to industrial processes. They are caused, for example, by gases, fumes, or vapors. Explosive atmospheres can also occur, however, in mills, silos, and sugar and fodder factories due to the dust present there.

The surge protective devices for the Ex area are subject to specific conditions. The items therefore meet the specific requirements for intrinsic safety type of protection. Since all surge protective devices for intrinsically safe circuits are categorized as “Ex ia”, they provide the highest level of safety. In this category, the equipment must not be capable of igniting, even in the event of two independent faults.

It can be installed in Ex zone 1, Ex zone 2, or in the non-Ex area. The connected signals can be forwarded up to Ex zone 0. Some items also meet the requirements for pressure-tight encapsulation type of protection. Approvals are granted in accordance with ATEX and IECEx.

Ideally, a surge protection concept should have a multi-stage design. This involves the optimum arrangement of components that respond quickly, such as suppressor diodes, and powerful protective devices such as gas discharge tubes. The gap between these two protection stages is closed by varistors. They take longer to activate than diodes, but have a higher discharge capacity.

Single-stage protective devices are only equipped with one component. They are suitable, for example, for the additional protection of long cables from the field, at the building entrance, or at the transition between different protection zones. Single-stage protective devices with common mode voltage protection provide protection against surge voltages between the individual signal wires. Versions with normal mode voltage protection provide protection for the wires and ground.