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The importance of surge arresters

It is a fact that lightning in South Africa causes millions of rands in damage to property annually. Each individual thunderstorm has the potential to cost a home or business time and money if it is not properly protected with surge suppression.  You do not have to be struck directly to suffer damage as lightning up to 1km away can still cause damage.

A surge arrester is a voltage activated device that protects computers and other electronic equipment from surges or transient voltages in electrical power or data cables, whether it be from lightning or a switching surge. The standard South African voltage for home and office buildings is 230 V. Anything over this amount is considered transient and can damage electronic devices that are plugged into an outlet. Even though surges are so brief that they are measured in nanoseconds, they can cause considerable damage to electronic equipment.

While we normally think of lightning causing catastrophic failure, we must also remember that lightning, transients and surges caused by other phenomena can cause havoc in the home or office.

DEHN's Surge Arresters

DEHN's surge arresters are designed to protect and maintain system reliability regardless of the cause or magnitude of these transients.

A surge arrester works by diverting the extra voltage into the earth wire, rather than flowing through the electronic devices, while at the same time allowing the normal voltage to continue along its path. Electrical surges can damage computer equipment wiring or, gradually over time, wearing down the device’s internal components. Surge arresters can also protect telephone, computer and data cables as these also carry electric current.

It is a common misunderstanding that all surge arresters will protect systems from lightning, the most familiar source of power surges. Lightning current arresters (Class 1) are used to protect against direct lightning surge currents.  Surge arresters (Class 2) protect equipment from induced surges that occur frequently in modern electrical wiring.

With DEHN's surge arresters and lightning current arresters the home or business owner can be assured that their assets are reliably protected.

Contact Surgetek on 011 792 1303 for additional information and advice on surge and lightning protection for the home, office or business.

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