Surge Arrestors
Circuit Breaker and Secondary Surge Arrester
Lightning Arresters

Surge Suppressors
Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor
Low-Voltage Telco Surge Suppressor
Low-Voltage Coaxial Surge Suppressor

 

Siemens Residential Surge Protection — Implementing the Right Line of Defense on the Home Front

Unexpected voltage spikes, surges and other electrical disturbances can ruin or severely damage computers, VCRs, televisions, fax machines, scanners and copiers, disrupt satellite signals, degrade the performance of audio/video components, and wreak havoc with telecommunications systems. Because no single device can protect an entire home or office against all electrical surges, the best way to prevent damage is by implementing a systematic, tiered surge protection plan that monitors every possible incoming signal path and protects against internally generated power fluctuations, providing protection at the service entrance and at the point of use.

Protection at the Point of Entry

The first line of defense is protection at the point of entry where electricity enters a home through the main electrical service panel—and surges and voltage spikes from lightning hits enter the electrical system.

Installing service entrance protection devices, or surge arrestors, diverts surges to ground before they can enter the premises. If the AC surge arrestor is doing its job, it shields motor-driven appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, electric washers, and dryers from damage. Additional specialized service entrance protectors can be added to protect cable TV and telephone lines, and to minimize damage to TV sets and modems. Homeowners can also arrange for installation of branch circuit feeder devices or trips in circuit breaker panels to prevent catastrophic and internally-generated transients from damaging equipment on specific circuit branches.

According to Dr. Richard Cohen, a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), “The importance of tiered protection cannot be underestimated. Lightning and surge protection experts from IEEE, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Electric Power Research Institute have known for years that the combined use of quality protectors at the building entrance, and appropriate plug-in protectors at the point of use can virtually eliminate all damage from lightning and surges. This knowledge is critical, but has not yet been broadly distributed. For this reason, the IEEE has designated a special group, which I am leading, to prepare an Application Guide on residential protection."

Providing protection at the point of entry requires an electrician-installed point-of-entry surge arrestor where power enters the residence from the utility. Surge arrestors limit surge voltage by conducting large surge currents safely to ground. However, because the voltages that pass through surge arrestors are sometimes too large to protect electronic equipment, they should be supplemented by plug-in Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors (TVSSs) where the equipment is located.

Circuit Breaker and Secondary Surge Arrester

The Siemens Company has announced the availability of its latest innovation - a circuit breaker / surge arrester that protects the electrical system against lightning strikes, utility switching surges, and in-home-generated transients. 
      
This device meets the growing need for surge protection as households have added increasing amounts of transient-sensitive, semiconductor-based electrical and electronic equipment. By installing this new Siemens device in the load center of the residence, surge protection is provided for all branch circuits, fixtures, appliances, motors, and other electronic and electrical equipment in the house served by that load center.

Two red LED lights indicate that surge protection is provided for all circuits connected to the panelboard. As a Siemens exclusive feature, the device notifies the owner of loss of surge protection by tripping one or both of the circuit breakers. These breakers should be used for circuit protection of frequently used household or facility circuits because the lights and devices connected to these circuits provide an effective indication that surge protection is being provided.

If one or both of the circuit breakers have tripped, turn both circuit breakers to the "OFF" then "ON" position. If either light is not illuminated, the device may still be used for circuit protection, but surge protection is no longer provided and the device should be replaced by a qualified electrician.

All Type QP circuit breakers and secondary surge arresters are plug-on style, with load terminals provided. The devices are rated for 120/240V AC and are calibrated for 40 degrees C maximum ambient applications.

Residential Wiring and Power Quality top of page

 

Circuit Breaker and Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor

The Siemens circuit breaker and transient voltage surge suppressor is comprised of a highly effective TVSS module integrated with (2) 1-pole circuit breakers. This device incorporates the robust features of our secondary circuit breaker surge arrester with a lower clamping voltage ratings.
       
Two red LED indicator lights are provided to show that surge protection is provided for all circuits connected to the panelboard. As a Siemens exclusive feature, the device notifies the owner of loss of surge protection by tripping one or both of the circuit breakers. These breakers should be used for circuit protection of frequently used household or facility circuits because the lights and devices connected to these circuits provide an effective indication that surge protection is being provided.

If one or both of the circuit breakers have tripped, turn both circuit breakers to the "OFF" then "ON" position. If either light is not illuminated, the device may still be used for circuit protection, but surge protection is no longer provided and the device should be replaced by a qualified electrician.

The circuit breaker and transient voltage surge suppressors utilize Siemens-built 150V AC, 40mm, metal oxide varistors (MOVs). The maximum impulse rating for the TVSS module is 40kA. The standard interrupting rating for the circuit breakers is 10k AIC. The circuit breakers are SWD and HACR rated.

All Type QP circuit breakers and transient voltage surge suppressors are plug-on style, with load terminals provided. The devices are rated for 120/240V AC and are calibrated for 40 degrees C maximum ambient applications.

Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor

TPSA9040 shields motor-driven appliances in residential and light commercial applications against electrical power surge damage, including lightning, from entering through the main electrical service panel. Multiple MOV technology with thermal disconnects to prevent catastrophic failure. The two LED lights indicate protection status. The audible alarm alerts you when protection is disrupted.

The Siemens warranty covers lightning damage during the warranty period. Major household appliances are covered against surge damage for 3 years when a TPSA9040 is installed by a qualified electrician. If the TPSA9040 surge protector is damaged, for any reason, during the first 5 years of ownership, Siemens will replace it free of charge!

Residential Wiring and Power Quality top of page

 

Single-Phase Lightning Arrester

The TPSASA1 is a MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor) based hardwired Secondary Arrester, often referred to as a Lightning Arrester. The device is designed to protect electrical equipment from damaging effects of Spikes (+) and Notches (-) caused by lightning, utility switching, insulation arcing, electrical motor cycling, and other large or sudden changes in electrical power flow on incoming AC power lines.

The TPSASA1 is a two pole, split phase, three wire arrester intended to protect 120/240 VAC systems and has three 18” long, 12 AWG multi-stranded leads that are color coded for ease of installation.

The epoxy encapsulated arrester is designed to be easily installed in any position indoors or outdoors utilizing the integral ½ “ NPT threaded nipple and supplied metal lock nut. The housing is molded from flame retardant plastic that is other weather and UV resistant, and complies with the UL standard for strength and flame resistance properties. The arrester is sealed with UL component recognized epoxy potting compound.

The Siemens Surge Arrester is ideal protection for outdoor lighting and pole lamps, panelboards, oilfield pumps, workshops, irrigation and sump pumps, refrigeration systems, farm equipment including milking machines and poultry processing equipment, electric motors and controls, heat pumps and air conditioning equipment and many other electrical devices. These devices utilize a single MOV per pole to reduce the potential load balancing/sharing problems during operation.

Protection at the point of use

The second line of defense is the point of use. Here, homeowners can reinforce point-of-entry protection by installing plug-in surge protectors (strips) into grounded wall receptacles where sensitive electronic equipment is located. These plug-in protectors, which generally have much lower limiting voltages than entry protectors, defend against externally and internally generated surges that travel through power, phone, data, and coaxial lines. Plug-in power strips should minimally include AC power protection and appropriate signal line protection and should protect against both catastrophic and small surges. These devices should be installed wherever expensive or sensitive electronic equipment like computers, VCRs, fax machines, PCs with modems, satellite systems, stereo systems, copiers and scanners are located. All types of equipment with signal lines, such as phones, cable TV, and satellites should be equipped with multi-port protectors, which protect signal and AC lines.

Residential Wiring and Power Quality top of page

 

Protection at the Point of Use

Point of use products provide a second line of defense. Homeowners can reinforce the protection provided by a point-of-entry protection device by installing surge protectors (strips) and low-voltage surge suppressors.

Surge protectors plug into grounded wall receptacles where sensitive electronic equipment is located. These devices defend electronic components against surges from outside, and internally generated transient events (surges) that travel through AC power lines. Low-voltage surge suppressors defend electronic components against surges from outside, and internally generated transient events (surges) that travel through phone, data, and coaxial lines. These plug-in protectors generally have much lower limiting voltages than entry protectors, and provide better protection for electronic equipment.

As a homeowner, where do you install these devices? Simply put—anywhere you’ve got expensive or sensitive electronic equipment like computers, VCRs, fax machines, PCs with modems, satellite systems, stereo systems, copiers and scanners. Start by physically inspecting each room to determine which electronics need point-of-use surge protection, what kind of lines and how many plugs you have, and what type of signal lines are connected to each system. As a rule of thumb, all types of equipment with signal lines, such as phones, cable TV, and satellites, should be equipped with low-voltage surge suppressors, which are specially designed to protect the signal lines.

The payoff is well worth the cost and effort of installing surge protection devices. It’s far less expensive to invest in protection than it is to replace costly equipment. How do you know which surge protector to purchase?

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU'VE GOT THE GOOD STUFF

Implementing a tiered protection plan is just half the battle. The other half is investing in quality equipment that will actually do its job. Look for:

• Protect or disconnect circuitry—circuitry in a protector that instantly disconnects power to the connected equipment when a massive overvoltage or surge condition occurs—or when surge protection components are no longer functioning. Make sure the surge protector/arrestor will sacrifice itself--and not your equipment--in the event of a catastrophic surge.
• Good warranties—better warranties provide a lifetime product and connected equipment warranty with a free replacement policy. This type of warranty covers the surge protector and may offer to replace, pay to replace at fair market value, or pay to repair equipment damaged while connected to a properly installed surge protector.
• Status and diagnostic indicators—the protective device should provide alerts to different status conditions. These include LEDs to indicate power on and protection status, audible alarms for protection disruption, and other diagnostic lights. The most important indicator is one that indicates whether the connected device is still receiving power. Because most power strips are used behind desks or couches, visual indications may be difficult to detect. Therefore, if the protector causes the connected device to lose power or trips a breaker, you know if surge protection is gone.
• Multi-port protection—many protection devices employ circuitry that protects the AC power source and all signal lines. These protection devices combine AC and telephone/modem protection, AC and coaxial cable protection, satellite protection and AC and LAN/data line protection.
• Line filtration—provides protection against electromagnetic and radio frequency interference.
• Premium construction—Make sure the protection device is constructed of premium materials. There are big differences in the way surge protectors/arrestors are made, although it is difficult to discern from the outside. Company reputation, specifications, and the warranty are the most important indicators of a quality product. An indication of cheap construction is a cheap price—the old adage “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is” holds true.
• Better ratings— Not all point of use devices are created equal. Look for:

Rating	Description
Low suppression rating/clamping level (typically 330V for AC point-of-use protectors)	A measure of the voltage-limiting capability of the protector, this rating states the voltage level that the suppressor will allow to pass through it. The lower the suppression rating, the better the protection.
Joule rating	With a low suppression rating, the higher the joule rating the better.
Maximum impulse current rating	A withstand rating that determines the maximum current the device can survive. The higher the number the better, typically around 40,000 amperes.
UL 1449, second edition listing	Shows that the product has passed the most recent tests for safety.
Guaranteed protection	A measure of the manufacturer’s confidence in the actual performance of the product.

Residential Wiring and Power Quality top of page

A tiered protection plan pre-empts the costly damage that power disturbances can cause and more than pays for itself in both time and money. And when a tiered protection plan is reinforced by installing first-class devices that offer quality construction, acceptable ratings, compliance with standards, and the power to truly protect, the biggest payoff may well be the one that’s most valuable and most difficult to measure—peace of mind.

Low-Voltage Telco Surge Suppressor

TPSTEL protects telephone or modem connected electronics in residential and light commercial applications against electrical transient damage, including lightning, from entering through the main telephone connection. This device is rated for use with modems, telephones, fax machines and DSL connections. TPSTEL can be installed at the point-of-entry or at the point-of use.

TPSCOAX has standard RJ-45 connectors for ease of installation. Includes 1’ section of cable with female to female splice for lines side application. Compatible with analog modems fax machines, telephones and other telecommunications devices.

Multi stage technology prevents catastrophic failure. To ensure complete protection for your equipment, home, or business, it is important to protect AC power lines as well as the data lines that are connected to the equipment.

Low-Voltage Coaxial Surge Suppressor

TPSCOAX shields coaxial connected electronics in residential and light commercial applications against electrical transient damage, including lightning, from entering through the main cable connection. This device is rated for use with CATV, DSS, TV, VCR, and Cable Modem. TPSCOAX can be installed at the point-of-entry or at the point-of use.

TPSCOAX has standard F-connectors for ease of installation. Rugged Gas Tube technology prevents catastrophic failure. Device includes 1’ section of coaxial cable for line side application.

To ensure complete protection for your equipment, home, or business, it is important to protect AC power lines as well as the data lines that are connected to the equipment.

 

Residential Wiring and Power Quality top of page

next:
Power Quality and Electrical Wiring