Surge Protector Components

Surge protectors refer to appliances that protect electrical and household devices. You will find these small items very useful in your house.

Surge protectors are appliances designed to protect household and electrical devices. They regulate the voltage supplied to a device by blocking or by simply shorting it into ground voltages from a safe threshold.

For many years now surge protectors have prevented thousands of fire accidents caused by electrical malfunctions at home. It has also saved millions of people from possible electrocution accidents. This product is regarded as basic needs in every home.

Surge protectors has important primary components, working together to function efficiently.

First on the list is the metal oxide varistor. It contains granular zinc oxide and conducts a current when in contact with a voltage higher than what is rated. Metal oxide varistors limit the voltages to about three to four times the normal voltage of a circuit by diverting the surge current into other locations.

The metal oxide varistor can be connected in a parallel formation in order to increase its life expectancy and current capability. They are usually thermal-fused or protected to avoid fire hazards and short circuits.

Another important component is the transient suppression diode. It provides protective components on the limiting action but it does have a low current capability. The voltage can be limited to about less than two times of the voltage, particularly when in normal operation. When current impulses remain in reference with the device ratings, its life expectancy will be extended. Transient diodes can also be used in areas where spikes significantly occur more often than usual or once a year. Transient diodes do not degrade with use.

The third component is gas discharge tube. It relies on the gas trapped between the two electrodes ionized by a high voltage in order to conduct an electrical current. Gas discharge tubes are capable of conducting more current in respect to their size as compared to the other components. They take time in triggering and permitting higher voltage spikes to exist before they conduct a significant current.

Gas discharge tubes also do not let pulses of five hundred volts or more in duration. Additional protection is needed in some cases in order to prevent more damage that is due to this effect. They are also used commonly in high frequency lines.

Next is the selenium voltage suppressor. It is a clamping type of semiconductor. It is similar to a metal oxide varistor but with a longer life as compared to the latter. It is commonly used in high energy circuits like that of an alternator exciter field. It can dissipate large amounts of power continuously and still retains its characteristics, especially clamping throughout the event if properly sized.

The crowbar circuit is another important of surge protectors. It uses a zener diode that divides the gate of a rectifier, which are silicon controlled latches of any high voltage. This is until the power is turned off. On the other hand, the zener diode will set the trip voltage and will latch on later when it has exceeded.

Last but not the least is the carbon block spark gap over voltage suppressor. It is an old type of technology but it is still found in some telephone circuits. Carbon rods are held together with an insulator from a specific distance from the other carbon rod. The dimensions of the gap will determine the voltage where a spark will jump from the two parts and will short to the ground.