Surge Protection

Protection of electrical appliances

against effects of lightning

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 Protection of electrical appliances
against effects of lightning

I. Consequences of
lightning:
fact and trends
II. Development of surges
in the equipment

III. Implementation of surge

protection
IV. Merlin Gerin
Gerins role
in surge protection

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 I. Facts and trends
Where Do Transients Originate From ?
External Sources

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 I. Facts and trends
Where Do Transients Originate From ?
External Sources

No. of Thunder days per year

K.L.*** 220

Jakarta** 193

Manila*** 180

Singapore** 171

H.C.M.*** 150

Bangkok*** 150

Mumbai* 81

Chennai* 56

Delhi* 39.1

Sydney** 22

Perth** 12

Adelaide** 12

Melbourne** 12

Global distribution of lightning April-1995-Februrary 2003 from the

0 50 100 150 200 250
combined observations of the NASA OTD and LIS instruments

*Estimated based on rainy days data from India Meteorological Department

**Bureau of Meteorology Australia, 1990-1999; Indonesian Meteorological & Geophysics Department 1999, Singapore National Environment Agency
*** Estimated based on Global Distribution of Lightning, NASA OTD, LIS, April 1995-Feb 2003

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 I. Facts and trends
Effects of lightning
Singapore: Lightning damaged appliances in house at Kovan(28.4.06)
KUALA LUMPUR: Lightning setting a house a blaze (27.4.06) Most electrical and electronic appliances were damaged due to the
The lightning strike is believed to have caused a short-circuit in a lightning strike. Owner now looking into lightning protection.
bedroom, razing the bungalow in minutes. Lightning Strikes Two Homes (US)-19.4.06
Lightning strikes knock out power(UK)-31.8.05 Lt. Tim Watkins, Signal Mountain Fire Department- "I think
the lightning struck the line going into the house at
Lightning also damaged rail signalling equipment in
Portadown, temporarily disrupting trains on the the meter and ran in the meter to the electrical box."
Belfast line. Horror as house is struck by lightning (UK- 5.12.05)
Lightning strikes Morgan 911 center (Tennessee)-21.4.06
Lightning struck the 911 center's tower on U.S. 31 South, frying electronic carts Two computers in home's nearby were also damaged by the surge
and forcing workers to dispatch emergency calls differently, an official said. Lightning strikes antenna, igniting home in Shell Point (South Carolina)-10.4.06
The electricity traveled through neighborhood lines before surging an outlet in
Lightning strikes Dawson 911 call center(19.12.05) the living room at 63 Cleveland Drive, according to authorities. "We traced
For the second time in two years, the call center was struck by lightning last the fire back to the point of origin. An outlet blew out in the living room."
Sunday afternoon, destroying equipment throughout the building and Lightning knocks out traffic signal (Chicago)-22.4.06
disrupting call service. Though the strike damaged the Sheriffs Department
phone lines, computers and 911 equipment, the call center went without City spokesman David Motley said the signal "was
phone service for only a few minutes. Several personal computers, as well completely fried" by the hit, and traffic has proceeded
as department computers, were rendered useless by the accident. through a four-way flashing red stop sign ever since.
Glynn Academy Struck by Lightning (US)-19.8.05 The estimated replacement cost is $11,000.
"I had some technology equipment that's not going to make it." Lightning strikes Murrumbateman home (Australia)-14.9.05
Lightning caused a severe house fire in Murrumbateman on Saturday night, with an
Lightning pounds city in Liaoning(China)-21.4.05 estimated $200,000 in damages caused. Representatives from the NSW Rural Bush
According to Mou, almost all the electronic instruments Fire Service and the NSW Fire Brigades agreed with the suspected spread of
of the 200 local inhabitants were damaged by the the blaze through the power network of the house. "It appears that the lightning
storm, including TV sets, telephones and strike has spread through the dwelling through the power lines in the walls and roof of
computers, adding that power was still down. the house .
Lightning causes train havoc, sparks Connex probe (Australia)-4.11.05 Lightning knocks out airport's new security system (US)-10.9.04
Racegoers and workers were also held up after the strike caused a power A recent thunderstorm is being blamed for frying Venice Municipal
surge about 6am, making a substation and signalling equipment at Airport's security system. More than $15,000 is needed to fix the
Caulfield unsafe. It affected the arrival of 156 trains. problem.

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 I. Facts and trends
International standards
reinforce
their recommendations

IEC 60364: international wiring rules:
 identifies situations of high risk where
surge arresters are declared mandatory.

IEC 62305: dedicated to protection against
lightning risk:
 emphasizes requirement for protection
of electrical appliances.

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 I. Facts and trends
Growing awareness toward surge
protection

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 I. Facts and trends
Product standards IEC 61643

1998, first issue (version 1.0).

2001-2002, amendments.

2005, version 2.0, including:
 transient Ovevoltage withstand (extending life
duration in limited surge conditions),
 coordination with disconnecting circuit-
breakers.

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 Protection of electrical appliances
against effects of lightning

I. Consequences of
lightning:
fact and trends
II. Development of surges
in the equipment

III. Implementation of surge

protection
IV. Merlin Gerin
Gerins role
in surge protection

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 II. Development of surge in the equipment
Typical waveform of lightning
current

Peak : from 5 to 40 kA

30kA/s

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 II. Development of surge in the equipment
Different types of lightning
strokes

Direct on the building structure Near the building structure

Direct on service entering the building Near service entering the building

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 II. Development of surge in the equipment
Types of lightning strikes
and consequences (IEC 62305)

Strike type Electric Physical Failure of

shock to damage electrical
people equipment
Direct to the
building structure   
Near the building
structure  
Direct to service
entering the   
building
Near service
entering the 
building

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 II. Development of surge in the equipment
Induced effects of lightning

kV

kV

Near service entering the building

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 II. Development of surge in the equipment
Standardized waves

Mainstream lightning current

10/350 s

Voltage wave
1.2/50s

Current wave
8/20s

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 Protection of electrical
appliances against effects of
lightning

I. Consequences of
lightning:
fact and trends
II. Development of surges
in the equipment

III. Implementation of surge

protection
IV. Merlin Gerin
Gerins role
in surge protection

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 III. Implementation in surge protection

Initial Surge
Response using an SPD

Overvoltage

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 III. Implementation in surge protection
Classes of Protection

IEC: Type 3 (Class III) IEC: Type 2 IEC: Type 1 (Class I)

(Class II)
VDE: Cat D VDE: Cat B
VDE: Cat C

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 III. Implementation in surge protection
Surge protection of an
individual dwelling

Up = 1.5 kV
Up
Uc = 275 V
I max = 10 kA Up

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 III. Implementation in surge protection
Surge protection of an
individual dwelling

Protection level Up -> voltage withstand

of appliances (IEC 364):
Category I II III IV
impulse 1.5 2.5 4 6
voltage
(kV)
type of specially electrica distributi Incomer
equipme protecte l on and meter
nt d applianc final
equipme es circuits
nt
(Electro
nic
devices..
.)

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 III. Implementation in surge protection
Surge protection in an
apartment
building
Up = 1.5 kV
Uc = 275 V
I max = 10 kA

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 III. Implementation in surge protection
Surge protection in a
commercial
or industrial building

8 kA
8 kA

8 kA
40 kA
8 kA

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 III. Implementation in surge protection
Lightning protector on the
building
or within 50 meters radius

Protection of the building.

Increased risk for electrical equipment.

100 kA
50 kA

30 kA / s

50 kA
Type 1

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 III. Implementation in surge protection
Sensitive loads with long
electrical distance from
switchboard

Type
3

8 kA
type 2

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 III. Implementation in surge protection
Surge protection selection:
all you need to remember

Uc operating voltage : 275 V at least

 for all 230V live to neutral rated networks (TT, TN).

Up protection level :1.5 kV or less
 to protect all types of loads,
even the most sensitive ones.

Imax discharge current:
 10 kA for residential
 40 kA for business
 upgrade to 40 kA or 65 kA if high lightning density.

Add type 1 surge arrester at incoming
for lightning attracting buildings:
 lightning protector equipped or peak-shaped.

Add type 2 & 3 (socket stripe) close to
 sensitive loads further than 30 electrical meters
away from switchboard surge arrester.

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 Protection of electrical appliances
against effects of lightning

I. Consequences of
lightning:
fact and trends
II. Development of surges
in the equipment

III. Implementation of surge

protection
IV. Merlin Gerin
Gerins role
in surge protection

SESEA Max Tang Oct 2006 2

5
 IV. Merlin Gerins role in surge protection
A natural continuation
of Merlin Gerins tradition

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 IV. Merlin Gerins role in surge protection
Surge arrester for household
applications: Domae Quick PF

Domae aesthetics.

Efficiency: optimized connection.

Safety: built-in disconnection device.

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 IV. Merlin Gerins role in surge protection
Type 2 surge protection
by Merlin Gerin

Surge Protective devices to protect against:
 External surge overvoltages.
 Internal surge overvoltages.

Complete range of products

 8 kA, 20 kA, 40 kA and 65 kA

Useful for distribution panels

Available in monoblock and withdrawable

version

Effective protection even for the most

sensitive equipment.

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 IV. Merlin Gerins role in surge protection
PRF1 / PRF1 Master:
a complete range against
direct strikes

Surge protective devices to protect against
external surge overvoltages (direct lightning
strikes).

Very high Energy diverting capability.

Ideal for service entrance panels.

Combi-products with an MCB already pre-

wired.

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 T hanks
for your attention

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