Surge
Protection Devices

Keeping people and property safe

 

Every electrical and electronic device has a specific dielectric strength against voltage fluctuations. If the voltage exceeds this strength, malfunctions and damage will occur.

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Surge
protection

Surge protection devices (SPDs) are designed to reduce the risk to people, property, electrical installations and connected devices from damage caused by surges, transients and lightning. While there is no way of predicting exactly the occurrence or intensity of surge that may affect any given installation, research and testing has identified the origins of the most damaging surges.

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Over-voltages

Electrical overvoltage events are frequent and unpredictable they last from a few microseconds to days, the overvoltage amplitude can range from millivolts to thousands of volts. SPDs are designed to mitigate transients or surges, which are high intensity, but very short duration (Millisecond or less) overvoltage events.

Switching operations

Electrical switching operations, grid operations, large motors or powerline disturbances can generate Switching Electro Magnetic Pulses (SEMPs). SEMPS are short-lived but generate high currents and voltages pulses,  that spread through the distribution network into other installations  causing damage to electrical components.

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Lightning strikes

Lightning Electro Magnetic Pulses (LEMPs) have the greatest destructive power of all voltage surges. They create high transient over voltages that can span great distances. lightning strikes carry enough energy to lead to partial or outright destruction  of components or the entire installation.

 
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The three types of
surge protection devices

Type 1: Lightning protection

Diverts the energy content of the lightning and reduces the residual voltage to values < 6,000 - 1,300 V.

Type 2: Surge protection

Reduces the remaining overvoltage to < 2,000 - 600 V. The overvoltage must not exceed 4,000 V.

Type 3: Surge protection for terminals

Reduces the remaining overvoltages to values that are for end devices < 1,500 V.

Protection technology from a single source

With the Hager SPD range, it is easy to select appropriate SPD products, from simple residential installations, to large commercial buildings with multiple switchboards, that require a complex cascading surge protection system.

To simplify SPD selection and cascading, we use the following terminology:

Spark Gap, Very Coarse, Coarse, Medium and Fine.

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Combine
and reinforce

With the Hager SPD range, it is easy to select appropriate SPD products, from simple residential installations, to large commercial buildings with multiple switchboards, that require a complex cascading surge protection system.

To simplify SPD selection, we use the following terminology:

Spark Gap, Very Coarse, Coarse, Medium and Fine.
‘Spark Gap’ Lightning arrestors. (Type 1) used in installations with conductive, direct or very frequent lightning activity. Test wave 10/350μs.
‘Very Coarse’ 100kA surge arrestors (Type 2) Suitable for large buildings and installations or areas with high risk of induced lightning or switching transients. Test wave 8/20μs.
‘Coarse’ 65kA surge arrestor (Type 2) suitable for areas with medium risk of conducted lightning and induced switching transients.  Test wave 10/350μs and 8/20μs.  
‘Medium’ 40kA Surge arresters (Type 2) are installed in installations with low risk of lightning and induced switching transients, typically urban residential installations. Test wave 8/20μs.
‘Fine’ 8kA (Type 2) Surge arresters are used for final sub circuit and device protection. Installed only in conjunction with other upstream surge protection devices. Test wave 8/20μs.
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Protecting
human lives

Main benefits at a glance:

  • simple retrofitting
  • Australian, New Zealand and European standards compliant range
  • easy to choose the right one
  • safe and easy to install
  • excellent results

Residential
building protection

For the majority of Australian urban residential premises we recommend installation of a single or three phase ‘Medium’ SPD at the MSB. However, in zones or regions with increased lightning exposure or proximity to industrial and commercial sites, upgrading to a minimum of ‘Coarse’ protection at the MSB is recommended. Consideration should be given to installing additional cascading ‘Spark Gap’ or ‘Fine’ surge protection devices to increase resilience and minimise risk.
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Commercial
building protection

We recommend Australian and New Zealand commercial premises install SPDs at multiple points to create a cascading surge protection system. This system will increase electrical resilience and minimise the risk of fire or downtime to the property and occupants. We offer a varied range of SPDs to allow electricians to select the most appropriate SPD for most commercial installations or applications.

Brochure

Download our Surge Protection Brochure.

Download

View our SPD range

Spark Gap Arresters

Very Coarse SPDs

Category C2 (Type 2)

Medium SPDs

Category B and C1 (Type 2)

Fine SPDs

Category A (Type 2)

Replacement Cartridges

For SPNxxx and SPBxxx

Have a question?

Our team of technical experts are on hand and ready to answer any questions you may have!

Contact us