Surge protection for MCR technology

TERMITRAB complete is the world’s narrowest surge protection solution for MCR technology. This product family provides you with a complete system. It ranges from simple, single-stage surge protection to multi-stage, pluggable versions with knife disconnection, signaling, and remote signaling option.

The narrowest surge protective devices are just 3.5 mm wide. This represents space savings of up to 50% compared to installations with a 7 mm overall width.

The protective devices in the TERMITRAB complete family provide mechanical signaling that displays the status of the protective devices without the need for additional auxiliary power. Optional remote signaling modules visually monitor up to 40 protective devices. In the event of a thermal overload, the remote signaling modules notify the control room, for example, of the status in the form of a group message via a floating contact.

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 overvoltages. The surge protection system continues to function and your system is still protected. When the status is yellow, replacement is recommended in order to avoid unnecessary service call-outs.

• 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, such as 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 directly attached to the sensor head via their connecting threads. This type of mounting 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.

Analog measured variables such as speed, pressure, flow, etc. are recorded by sensors and converted into current or voltage values by measuring transducers. They are transmitted to the controller or the isolator module within a standardized value range. The “1x2 circuit” is typically used for this type of analog transmission method.

Transient coupled-in overvoltages can cause damage both on the field device and centrally. You should therefore equip both of these end points with surge protection for MCR technology.

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), and also 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 protection. Since all surge protective devices are assigned to the “Ex ia” category for intrinsically safe circuits, they provide maximum 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 of pressure-tight encapsulation 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 overvoltages between the individual signal wires. Versions with normal mode voltage protection provide protection for the wires and ground.