Isolating spark gap
Surge protection and lightning protection
Surge protection refers to the protection of systems and electrical devices against excessively high voltage peaks caused by switching operations and lightning strikes. An effective lightning protection strategy combines internal and external lightning protection. Protect the power supplies, data, and signals in your system. Use the reliable surge protection solutions available in our various product ranges as part of your internal lightning protection strategy.
Easily find the right surge protection
Surge protection product portfolio
Surge protection for power supply
Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 surge protection devices protect the power supply against the lightning current arrester at the point of feed-in up to the device protection at the end device. Combined lightning current and surge arresters unite multiple levels of protection in a single surge protection device. This ensures consistent protection in all applications.
Your advantages:
- Surge protection for all common power supply systems using high-performance combined lightning current and surge arresters and surge protection devices
- Consistent protection across all protection levels with coordinated protective devices
- Saves space and costs thanks to compact solutions
Surge protection for MCR technology and signals
A large number of signals are controlled and monitored in measurement and control technology (MCR technology) applications. Our protective devices prevent malfunctions and damage caused by surge voltages and provide you with an ideal solution for any application.
Your advantages:
- Comprehensive protection for signal and communication interfaces from the control cabinet to the field
- Efficient integration even in tight spaces through compact designs
- Increased system availability through intelligent monitoring and rapid fault detection
Surge protection for information technology
Data interfaces are particularly sensitive to surge voltages because they operate with low signal levels and high frequencies. Use our surge protection solutions for interference-free data transmission while retaining the bandwidth of your IT systems.
Your advantages:
- Reliable surge protection without affecting modern high-speed networks
- Comprehensive protection for communication and IT infrastructure
- Efficient implementation in every application thanks to application-optimized designs
Surge protection for transmitter and receiver systems
Transceiver systems are particularly at risk from surge voltages. Antenna cables that extend beyond the building and the antennas themselves are directly exposed to atmospheric discharges. Play it safe with our powerful, coaxial surge protective devices.
Your advantages:
- Protection of sensitive RF and communications systems without affecting transmission capacity
- High resistance to severe power surges for maximum system availability
- Efficient implementation in every application with optimized designs and connection technologies
Surge protection for photovoltaic systems
Photovoltaic systems place special demands on surge protection: in terms of air clearances and creepage distances, for example, and the different types of voltage that must be taken into account in photovoltaic systems. At Phoenix Contact, you’ll get the right components for your PV applications - everything from ready-to-install string combiner boxes to single surge protective devices.
Your advantages:
- Efficient project implementation through preconfigured solutions for rooftop and ground-mounted systems
- Planning reliability with standards-compliant, tested system solutions
- High system availability thanks to robust, easy-to-maintain components
Surge protection for the E-mobility charging infrastructure
With our CHARX protect surge protective devices, you will protect charging stations and electric vehicles against damage due to surge voltages caused by lightning strikes or switching operations in the grid. The devices ensure high availability for your charging infrastructure at any time and in any weather - and you can charge without risk.
Your advantages:
- Protection for the feed-in system against damage caused by lightning strikes and power surges in the grid
- Safe operation of 12- and 24-V devices through the reliable protection of sensitive components
- Reliable communication protection for stable connections via Ethernet
Isolating spark gap
An isolating spark gap briefly connects metallic objects when high voltages occur: for example, during a lightning strike. This applies to metallic objects that must not be permanently galvanically connected during operation. As a result, the insulation between the metal bodies remains protected against uncontrolled voltage sparkover and the resulting insulation failures. Protect sensitive insulating flanges in pipelines against sparkover and avoid failures, downtimes, and leaks, for example.
Your advantages:
- Provide maximum protection with Class H, the highest possible lightning current carrying capacity
- Durable in extreme conditions due to excellent corrosion resistance
- Versatile use in the Ex area due to internationally recognized approvals
Test and monitoring devices
To manually test Plug-in surge protective devices in accordance with the requirements of IEC 62305, use CHECKMASTER 2 as a mobile test device. Regular inspections create transparency and help to systematically prevent equipment and machine breakdowns.
Your advantages:
- Quick and safe testing of Plug-in surge protection devices directly on site without interfering with the installation
- Clear condition assessment for predictive maintenance and preventive replacement
- Complete documentation through automatic saving of all test results
Technology and basics
Protection circle principle and protection concept
You should plan the protection concept for lightning and surge protection such that all cables, devices, and systems are protected.
The protection circle principle is easy to illustrate:
Draw an imaginary circle around the object you want to protect. Surge protective devices must be installed at all points where cables intersect this circle. This ensures that the area inside the protection circle is protected such that conducted surge voltages are prevented.
When planning the protection concept, take the following areas of application into account:
- Power supply (AC power supply, PV and DC applications)
- Measurement and control technology
- Information technology
- Transmitters and receivers
An effective protection circle helps to ensure seamless surge protection.
When it comes to surge protection, which standards must be observed?
National and international standards provide a guide to establishing a lightning and surge protection concept as well as the design of the individual protective devices. They differ depending on region and field of application. The overarching standard is lightning protection standard IEC 62305. It describes protective measures against lightning events and an extensive risk analysis with regard to the necessity, scope, and cost-effectiveness of a protection concept.
Brochures on surge protection
Would you like to receive printed information about our surge protection products? You will find various brochures below on the topic of surge protection, available as e-books or for download. In addition to the comprehensive product brochure “Surge Protection and EMC Filters,” you will find other brochures and flyers on the topic of surge protection here.
