Overvoltage Protection
Raycap is a leading designer and manufacturer of electrical overvoltage protection devices and systems for use within industrial sites. The protection systems developed by Raycap use industrial-grade components, such as the Strikesorb SPD technology, which enable unmatched levels of protection of critical, sensitive equipment within the industrial site. This vulnerable equipment, such as computers, microprocessors, and other devices powered through the electrical grid, would be damaged by lightning strikes and other overvoltage events that produce power surges from the electrical grid or inside the industrial facility. The protection technology inside Raycap’s products prevents damage from varying overvoltage and surge causes, and it is designed to prevent any electrical surges from coming into contact with equipment.
Overvoltage events are more common than lightning strikes within industrial sites. Overvoltage is defined as the current flow of electricity to a specific component being raised over a critical threshold known to damage components within the attached system potentially. The overvoltage protection (OVP) devices continually monitor the flow level of electricity and activate when that flow level is exceeded. The superior OVP protection offered by Strikesorb has a high short-circuit current rating, enabling flexible installation and integration. The technology has low let-through voltage and provides an optimum protection level, which keeps sensitive equipment safe. The installation of this localized OVP or remote OVP provides greater protection against circuit damage and data loss.
The reasons for overvoltage events are numerous. Failures within the power supply can cause brief and damaging spikes in current. These spikes must be recognized instantaneously and drawn down or diverted from the equipment in order to avoid fires, equipment loss, and data failures. Other forms of electrical events include transients and non-power supply failures, such as user errors caused by incorrect programming, shorts, and switch errors. In all of these events, the brief increase in electrical levels past the safety threshold is caused by distortions of the sine wave, which changes its shape and causes problems with equipment. This type of electrical overvoltage can negatively impact the reliability of electronics, causing the failure of critical equipment, including the UPS and other power backup systems. Transient Voltage Surge Suppression (TVSS) should, therefore, be considered part of a complete overvoltage protection solution.
Protection against a direct lightning strike is very difficult and will likely cause irreversible damage and potentially fire. However, protection against induced lightning currents is possible with very specialized surge protection installed in combination with a lightning protection system (LPS). Overvoltage caused by power spikes related to induced lightning surges on nearby power lines or coupled into a structure will also cause severe power surges but these can be drawn away from equipment through surge protection devices installed in front of the protected equipment.
The lightning surge protection systems offered by Raycap are some of the most sophisticated electrical protection solutions in the world and will provide industrial installations with the finest electrical protection available. For more information about Raycap’s OVP products and solutions, contact our representatives.
