Protector de voltaje

Seamless and safe

Every year, several hundred thousand cases of damage from lightning strikes and overvoltages are reported in Germany alone, with resulting costs in the multi-million euro range. Play it safe – with protector de voltaje from our SENTRON portfolio! These devices are part of a comprehensive protection concept for electrical installations, and reliably prevent damage from  overvoltage.

The danger of lightning: Damage from overvoltage

Overvoltages are brief voltage peaks of less than a thousandth of a second that exceed by many times the allowable design operating voltage of electric devices. Such overvoltage events are usually caused by lightning strikes, electrostatic discharges or power grid switching operations, and are extremely hazardous. Such surges can cause electrical systems to fail, destroy electrical and electronic equipment, or even set entire buildings on fire. An appropriate protection concept should therefore be implemented in every building.

Protection in three levels

It’s best when all electrically live cable routes in the building exposed to hazards are safeguarded by suitable protection devices according to a systematic “graded protection” concept: Beginning with the end device and all the way upstream to the entry of the power lines into the building, all power lines as well as the communication lines should be provided with protector de voltaje of various performance classes. The protection devices shall be selected in accordance with the electrical loads at the site of installation. This concept enables implementation of overvoltage and lightning protection measures tailored to local conditions and individual requirements.

The right device for any requirement

Among other characteristics that differentiate protector de voltaje is their rated surge capacity and the achievable level of protection.

• Type 1 lightning arrester: Protects against overvoltage and high currents triggered by direct or indirect lightning strikes
• Type 2 surge arrester: Protects against overvoltage triggered by electrical switching operations
• Type 3 surge arrester: Protects electrical loads (consumers) against overvoltage

50 percent of lightning current remains within the building

According to IEC 61312-1, it is to be assumed that approximately 50 percent of any lightning current is conducted via the external lightning protection system (lightning arrester) into the ground. Up to 50 percent of the remaining lightning current flows via electrically conductive systems into the building. Overvoltage protection measures are therefore absolutely essential, even if a building or installation is fitted with a lightning arrester.