External Transients: Instantaneously Damaging
External transients are often high energy Impulse events. These surge types can be extremely intense and instantaneously damaging.
Surges originate outside a given facility or residence. External surge activity accounts for about 20% of transient voltage related electronic and electrical system damage.
Surges typically enter a commercial facility, business or home via unprotected power, data and telephone lines. They can also enter building structures through externally exposed metal conduit runs.
External surge events can range from several thousand to tens of thousands of volts and amperes in the form of grid switches and system faults. They can exceed hundreds of thousands of volts and amperes + in the form of lightning strikes.
External Transients: The Big 3
The Big 3 represent the largest, most powerful External Surge events a facility, business, home or other structure may encounter:
2) Utility Grid Switching
Utility grid switching is a major power quality issue that can cause powerful external transients.
Power generating utilities break the distribution of power into grids.
The electric companies distribute power to each grid in a steady stream at all possible times, regardless of fluctuations in demand.
Unfortunately, this can cause problems for customers.
Each customer's power needs are constantly changing, thus constantly changing the overall grid needs.
Instead of adjusting the power generating equipment output for each changing power demand situation, the electric companies adjust by switching the supply of power from one grid to another grid.
When the grid supply is switched, very large surges are created. These surges can reach as high as 25,000 Volts.
3) Power System Faults
Power System Faults are essentially a sudden disruption in a normal electrical system or grid caused by a short or open circuit.
Shorts or open circuits can occur in power distribution equipment like transformers, transmission lines and generators. These faults can be very destructive.
Typical causes of power system faults:
- Lightning
- Falling Debris Across Power Lines
- Vehicles/objects Striking Power Poles
- Wind and Ice
- Natural Disasters
- Over-voltages
- Mechanical Damage
- Fire
- Suicidal Squirrels
- Human Error
The resulting voltage surges from system faults can be in the tens of thousands of volts and amperes. At these excessive levels, unprotected electronics and electrical equipment are at risk for extensive damage.
External Transients: Preventive Measures
If a commercial facility, business or residence experience an external surge event, damage can vary from severe to catastrophic. Thankfully, external transient damage can be mitigated with the proper application of surge protective devices (SPDs).
However, they need to be the Right SPD placed in the Right Location to deliver the Right Results.
SPDs are NOT created equal. SPDs do not perform the same. Few defend against external and internal surges effectively. Our SPDs Do.
Protect electronics and electrical systems from damaging External Transients with High Quality, High Performance Surge Protective Devices.
Our gear is... often imitated... but rarely duplicated...
The Surge Stops HereTM
Get the Right Gear!TM
Return from External Transients to Best-Surge-Protector Home
 |
 |