Hager's Integrated Surge: Deep Dive

Surge protection technology is something that an installer rarely sees evidence of operation. Integrated into the Distribution board, its purpose is to manage high voltage transients, typically generated by switching events and secondary lighting strikes, often occurring several kilometres away from the building, yet creating high voltage transients that reach the building's electrical architecture. Without SPD’s, these very fast high-voltage transients, continuously degrade electronics within connected electrical equipment and consumer products, shortening product life and increasing premature failure of electronic equipment.

Therefore the key attribute of a well-integrated SPD, within a Distribution board, is the measure of how well the SPD can manage these fast transients. We call this the effective Up performance of the SPD within the building's electrical distribution system. 

SPD manufacturers will provide technical details of the Up value (Transient voltage let through value) for the SPD. However, in reality, once the SPD is fitted into a Distribution board, these stated values are unlikely to be achieved. Impedance within the connecting conductors of the installation, reduce the SPD’s ability to react to these fast transients and the resulting effect is that the end equipment sees higher voltage levels from fast transients, leaving end equipment less well protected.

Through development testing, Hager has been able to understand typical installation factors that reduce the effectiveness of the SPD. In Hager consumer units, we replaced SPD cable connections with copper busbars and also found that the Earth connection was particularly important and difficult to improve without replacing the cable connection with a solid Earth link. Through these investigations Hager has significantly optimised the installed effective performance of the SPD, creating enhanced protection to the end equipment. The use of a patented solid Earth link design and copper busbar connections for Line and Neutral, ensures the consistent and repeatable performance ( Up) of the SPD as an integrated Distribution board solution.