SPECTATOR OR PARTCIPANT?
Can a spectator at a football game stop a team from scoring?
Only when the ball is thrown so far out of bounds that it doesn’t count anyway. You need a participant – an actual game player to intercept the pass. Spectators don’t have a major impact on the outcome of the game, the participants do. The majority of surge protection devices (SPDs) share similar technology. Most SPDs use some configuration of metal oxide varistors (MOVs). The nature of an MOV is to degrade when thresholds are met. The MOV starts conduction at a specific voltage. On the low end most SPDs do not begin to react (clamp down) until 330v on a 120v electrical system. The peak to peak waveform on a 120v system is approximately 170v in one of two directions, plus or minus the peak to peak from a zero point. Eighty percent (80%) of the surge dynamics in your electrical system are created within that 170v waveform. Should the MOV not react within the peak voltage it is ineffective.
If the MOV doesn’t react until it sees a 330v surge, the majority of damaging surge events that happen every second of every day gravitate into your electrical system and slowly damage your electrical instruments. In a voltage event above 330v the MOV will start to attract the excess voltage, which is damaging to the unit. When this happens the MOV gradually degrades and expires – no longer offering protection. This is why many SPDs have multiple or layered MOVs, which can be expensive. One of the main concerns with this type of technology is when an MOV expires it can create a dead short which can lead to a fire. This is the reason UL 1449 implemented a 3rd edition that requires MOV-based SPDs to contain thermal fuses, protecting the consumer from the failure mode. These fuses take the MOV off line when they expire so they do not create a dead short. They also add to your expense.
MOV SPDs by design are limited in their ability to react as the fuses limit the MOV’s reaction time, and when it comes to surges, speed is crucial. The electrical community has been led to believe that MOV-based TVSS technology has no effect on power quality. That is correct. MOV-based SPDs act like a spectator in an electrical system waiting for voltage events to happen.
Can a spectator at a football game stop a team from scoring?
Only when the ball is thrown so far out of bounds that it doesn’t count anyway. You need a participant – an actual game player to intercept the pass. Spectators don’t have a major impact on the outcome of the game, the participants do. The majority of surge protection devices (SPDs) share similar technology. Most SPDs use some configuration of metal oxide varistors (MOVs). The nature of an MOV is to degrade when thresholds are met. The MOV starts conduction at a specific voltage. On the low end most SPDs do not begin to react (clamp down) until 330v on a 120v electrical system. The peak to peak waveform on a 120v system is approximately 170v in one of two directions, plus or minus the peak to peak from a zero point. Eighty percent (80%) of the surge dynamics in your electrical system are created within that 170v waveform. Should the MOV not react within the peak voltage it is ineffective.
If the MOV doesn’t react until it sees a 330v surge, the majority of damaging surge events that happen every second of every day gravitate into your electrical system and slowly damage your electrical instruments. In a voltage event above 330v the MOV will start to attract the excess voltage, which is damaging to the unit. When this happens the MOV gradually degrades and expires – no longer offering protection. This is why many SPDs have multiple or layered MOVs, which can be expensive. One of the main concerns with this type of technology is when an MOV expires it can create a dead short which can lead to a fire. This is the reason UL 1449 implemented a 3rd edition that requires MOV-based SPDs to contain thermal fuses, protecting the consumer from the failure mode. These fuses take the MOV off line when they expire so they do not create a dead short. They also add to your expense.
MOV SPDs by design are limited in their ability to react as the fuses limit the MOV’s reaction time, and when it comes to surges, speed is crucial. The electrical community has been led to believe that MOV-based TVSS technology has no effect on power quality. That is correct. MOV-based SPDs act like a spectator in an electrical system waiting for voltage events to happen.
So what’s actually protecting
your electrical system?
The difference between CLEAN-VOLTTM and other surge protection devices begins with the varistor. CLEAN-VOLTTM does not use MOVs, instead it utilizes a patented varistor technology. In the event of a surge above 132v on a 120v (RMS), CLEAN-VOLTTM acts as the path of least resistance for the surge dynamics that occur within the system. This results in an almost perfect environment for your electronics to operate. CLEAN-VOLTTM attracts surge dynamics with no appreciable degradation. This means that every second of every day CLEAN-VOLTTM is participating within the fundamental waveform, dramatically reducing energy surging. CLEAN-VOLTTM, with its patented varistor technology, is robust enough to operate within the fundamental waveform.
In the event of a catastrophic surge CLEAN-VOLTTM (with patented varistor technology) is designed to contain enormous amounts of energy, buying your system the valuable fractions of time required to properly shut down in lightning conditions. This means CLEAN-VOLTTM has the ability to absorb internally generated energy surges while protecting your system from a catastrophic event. CLEAN-VOLTTM has industry-leading reaction time. It is the fastest reacting SPD available today.
When you combine the reaction time with the ultra-low clamping ability you get a device that can remove damaging energy surging from the fundamental waveform. This creates a positive result on the power quality of your electrical system and is a key participant in your energy management strategies.
Misconceptions of energy savings
Can SPD technology save me power?
When looking at how the industry gauges efficiency you have to keep in mind that they are looking at a device that consumes x amount of power and replacing it with a new modernized device that consumes less amount of x power. This is how savings are generally calculated & anticipated.
In simple terms, moderate energy surging creates heat. Heat builds resistance, therefore making your conductors and equipment work harder.
To understand the science, it is good to review the 1977 white paper that introduced the theory that energy surging had a negative impact on efficiencies within electrical systems. This 1977 white paper was taken to task in 1984 by another engineering group that turned out to prove this theory was correct.
The understanding of eddy currents, skinning effect of conductors & over magnetic saturation of iron core devices like motors and transformer, laminations must be taken into consideration. Eddy currents are a natural part of our electrical system but energy surging is compounding the levels of eddy currents, therefore, blocking the natural flow of current.
Depending on where your system is located on the overall electrical grid and the types of equipment you rely on within your own system will have a large impact on your overall power efficiency.
The impact of moderate energy surging has been sadly overlooked and not taken into consideration when implementing energy-efficient programs.
Proper moderate energy surge management will enable your system to achieve peak power efficiencies when these energy-efficient strategies are deployed.
Ask yourself how much has our system demands changed since 1984?
How sick is your system?