Total Protection Solutions by Joslyn™ Focus – Power Quality and Performance

A Little History

Over the last 20 years, electrical distribution systems have changed and grown substantially. Electronic equipment, such as industrial PLCs, robotics, computers, and office equipment, use sensitive and critical microprocessors (chips). In addition, industrial and commercial facilities are powering energy efficient solid state lighting, energy management systems, telecommunications, building support systems, air handling, fire alarm and security systems, HVAC systems, drives, and more. In all modern power systems, there are interactions of the electrical equipment throughout a facility. In years past, these interactions had little consequence. Motors, incandescent lighting, relays, and resistive heating elements all used power in essentially the same with little apparent effect on each other.

The Problem— Incompatibility

In today’s world, computers, laser printers, copiers, variable speed drives, electronic power supplies, and sensitive silicon-based microchips are sharing the same electrical system with traditional equipment, creating a system incompatibility. Modern equipment, both now and in the future, will require the electrical system to be free of transients and surges. Neutral and ground conductors must be isolated from one another and be virtually noise-free. Simply put, sensitive modern electronics and processors cannot tolerate the high frequency transients, surges, and noise present in all electrical systems.

The Solution - The Total Protection System

Properly networking Total Protection Solutions™ surge protection devices (SPDs) solves many of the electrical problems experienced by commercial and industrial facilities. The resulting Total Protection System will dramatically improve the total operating efficiency and reliability of the electrical system. In both Total Protection Systems and specific equipment applications, TPS products will…

• Increase system reliability
• Extend equipment life
• Reduce equipment downtime
• Reduce electrical maintenance and equipment repair costs
• Increase productivity
• 30-Year FREE Replacement Warranty

Protecting Equipment...Protecting Lives

If you have experienced any of these symptoms in your business:

• Lightning damage
• Equipment failure
• Excessive repair and replacement costs
• Scrambled and lost data
• Erratic equipment behavior
• Frequent downtime

Investing in systems protection is not an option. It's a necessity!

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a transient?
• What causes electrical transients?
• Should I cover the main or the branch panel? Should I cover both?
• What is let-through voltage?
• Why are UL ratings important?
• How long will this surge protector last?
• What safety listings do you carry?
• How do you protect large motors?
  
  What is a transient?
  
  An electrical transient is a temporary excess of voltage and/or current in an electrical circuit which has been disturbed. Transient duration events, typically lasting from a few thousandths of a second (milliseconds) to billionths of a second (nanoseconds), found on all types of electrical, data, and communications circuits.

  What causes electrical transients?

  The simple act of turning on (or off) a light, motor, copy machine or any other electrical device can disturb the electrical circuit and create transients. In general, the larger the load current the greater the disturbance when the load is switched off or on. The switching of high ampacity loads such as electric welders and electric motors are known to create transients. Studies have shown that a majority of transients (roughly 80%) are generated inside a given facility. Cloud-to-cloud lightning discharges or nearby lightning strikes are capable of creating electric field intensities in the hundreds to thousands of volts per meter. A two meter length of wire (i.e. a power or signal conductor) exposed to an electric field intensity of 300 volts per meter can develop an induced transient voltage of 600 volts (2 meters X 300 volts/meter = 600 volts). If this 600 volt transient appears across an unprotected power, telephone, data, or coaxial line the result can be system destruction. A driver knocking down a utility power pole or even events considered minor, such as a curious squirrel exploring a utility power transformer can be responsible for creating power interruptions and significant transient disturbances. Tree branches and even wet kite strings touching power lines have disrupted energy flow and caused power line transients. Noisy electrical neighbors sharing your electrical distribution system, such as welding shops or manufacturing facilities can also be a major source of transients.

  Should I cover the main or the branch panel? Should I cover both?
  
  Cover both and consider that a recommended minimum of two levels of protection is optimum. The main panel or service entrance surge protective device (SPD) provides the first line of defense against large externally generated transients stepping them down to safe levels. These externally generated transients include those caused by lightning, downed power lines and similar distribution problems, as well as noisy electrical neighbors. The main panel device also calms the internally generated transients which reach it from loads directly connected to it and from connected sub or branch panels. The main panel device prevents the redistribution of these internally generated transients. Branch panel SPDs handle the surge remnants which may remain after a massive hit at the main panel has been stepped down. Additionally, branch panel SPDs prevent transient cross contamination between the various circuits and their connected loads. Point-of-use and individual equipment protection (always consider AC and signal protection) isolates the protected system from transient activity on the same circuit.

  What is let-through voltage?

  Transient suppression voltage or let-through voltage is defined in UL 1449 as "The maximum peak voltage occurring within 100 microseconds after the application of the test wave." What we are really talking about is the maximum amplitude or height of the voltage after the SPD has done its job.

  
  

  Why are UL ratings important?

  The most important reason to look for the UL 1449 Second Edition Standard for Safety Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors listing is to ensure that the products are listed as complying with this safety standard. The UL 1449 measured limiting voltage ratings (let-through voltages) are determined as a part of the safety testing of the suppressor of UL 1449. This is the only data some manufacturers have because they do not have a UL 1449 certified laboratory or the staff, equipment, experience and certification required to effectively design, test and certify their products with the various ANSI/IEEE C62.41-1991 test wave forms.

  How long will this surge protector last?

  The owner of a Total Protection Solutions panel device has the exclusive, longest and strongest warranty protection in the industry, thirty years (Protector® Products). For good reason, Total Protection Solutions™ SPDs have been field proven to provide outstanding reliability and longevity. We expect our units to last far longer than their warranty. In fact, over the past forty years we manufactured more than a million panel devices, and the majority of products installed are still on the job today.

  What safety listing do you carry?

  The safety listings for the various Total Protection System SPDs vary by product design and intended application as required by the marketplace. The current safety listings are provided on the product data sheets. Some units are UL recognized components under UL 1449 and are designed to be included in other original equipment manufacturers' equipment.

  How do you protect large motors?

  We protect a large motor just like any other electrical device or system. First, we conduct a survey to determine the electrical system flow and distribution characteristics (e.g., voltage, current, number of phases, number of conductors, Wye or delta, etc.). Second, we determine the points of entry or points creation of transients, such as lightning, and/or large inductive or capacitive loads. Next, we provide a Total Protection System Solution from the service entrance down to the individual equipment level as required. Generally, we will protect large motors with higher peak surge current models, depending upon the results of the survey and consideration of other factors such as exposure level, criticality to operations, and ampacity.