Surge Protection Devices (SPD's)

Surge arresters, also known as lightning arresters or surge protectors, protect against transient voltage surges. These surges, typically caused by lightning strikes, switching operations, or other sudden changes in the electrical system, can cause significant damage. Surges cause damage to power lines, communication lines, and data networks, motors, and transformers. Surge arresters play a vital role in diverting surges away from sensitive equipment, safeguarding them from damage, and preventing costly downtime.

Surge arresters operate on the principle of voltage clamping. When a transient surge occurs, the surge arrester offers a low-resistance path to the ground, effectively diverting the excess voltage away from the protected equipment. This is achieved through a combination of metal oxide varistors (MOVs) or spark gaps, which rapidly conduct the surge current and then automatically return to their high-resistance state once the surge is over.