Most processor-based equipment, or that involving circuitry which can be easily damaged by electrical transients, will either build in or suggest some basic level of overvoltage protection. Electrical “transients” are brief fluctuations in the stable electrical current that flows to a device in order to keep it powered, and many are unaware that there are not only many transients which will happen throughout the course of a day, but also that there are numerous causes for electrical transients which will produce extremely wide ranges in the variation of current, from small and temporary increases to large-scale surges which can produce extreme levels of damage. The basic premise is to keep a consistent level of power flow at all times, while expecting and preparing for the surges which could produce damaging effects.
Overvoltage is the situation where the maximum safe level of electrical current that can be received at any moment to a device in order to keep it operational is exceeded. While an “undervoltage” even would produce damaging effects by taking equipment offline and potentially causing data losses due to improper shutdowns, overvoltage events produce extreme damage and potentially even cause complete equipment failure and loss due to the overheating of circuitry inside of the machinery. Not only is the same damage potential a undervoltage present in the form of data loss and offline statuses, the damage that can be sustained from overvoltage includes complete destruction of internal circuitry and wiring, equipment fires and even structural fires. While there is no way to completely prevent the fluctuation of electrical current due to the numerous causes, it is widely accepted that the best defense is to provide overvoltage protection systems installed previous to equipment which can either divert or completely shut off the excess electricity instantaneously. Ongoing and constant monitoring of the electrical levels is necessary, coupled with defense system triggers which can produce mitigation of transients upon any overvoltage event occurrence. Raycap produces and manufactures the world’s finest overvoltage protection systems through applications of redundant DC surge protection installed previous to equipment on cell towers and other industrial sites. These installs help ensure continual uptime and prevent expensive losses due to overvoltage events.
Overvoltage can be produced in a variety of ways, including malfunctions within the electrical supply itself to switching errors onsite. Switching overvoltage is transient disturbance caused by a switching operation, fault condition, or fault clearance in a power supply system. Any sudden change in the power system can initiate oscillations with high frequencies that will clear only when the system is stabilized. These fluctuations can produce circuit degradation which will effectively shorten the useful lifespan of most circuit driven equipment. As profitability will most times be directly reliant upon both uptime as well as useful lifetime extension of machinery to the longest point possible, smooth and consistent flow of electricity within specific boundaries assists in the necessary cost reduction measures that keep companies in business. In addition to transients caused by switching surges, industrial applications also have the propensity to suffer damage due to lightening strikes, which produce immediate overvoltage events far beyond the scope which can be handled by internal the defenses of equipment. The overvoltage levels produced by both direct strikes and coupled strikes will almost assuredly damage or destroy sensitive equipment if it is unprotected, leaving the only logical choice to be installation of preventive measures. Contact Raycap today to find out more.
