In industrial settings, a stable power supply isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Modern factories, plants, and processing facilities rely on automated systems, PLCs, variable-frequency drives, and sensitive electronics to operate 24/7. But with that advancement comes vulnerability.
Today’s equipment is more connected, more compact, and more delicate. Even a small transient voltage or electrical surge can cause major disruptions. These overvoltage events, often caused by lightning or internal switching, can damage components, slow operations, and risk safety.
That’s why surge protection devices are no longer optional. They are a critical part of electrical safety and power quality in industrial environments.
Industrial automation runs on control panels, I/O modules, and smart sensors — all of which are sensitive to voltage spikes. Surge protection devices shield these systems from dangerous transient events that can originate from both external sources (like lightning) and internal events (such as switching motors or capacitive loads). With proper SPD installation, your control logic stays intact and online.
One surge can wipe out a power supply, overheat circuit boards, or destroy communication lines. The cost? Lost production, halted output, and urgent repairs. Surge protection devices act as the first line of defense, diverting excess voltage safely to ground and keeping critical systems running without interruption.
Electrical surges aren’t just hard on machines — they’re dangerous to people. Arcing faults, equipment fires, and exposed conductors can create safety hazards for workers. Installing surge protection devices reduces the chance of arc flashes and equipment explosions, supporting a safer work environment.
Surges slowly degrade electronic components over time, even if the impact isn’t instantly visible. With surge protection devices in place, systems experience fewer voltage-related failures, meaning fewer unscheduled repairs, less equipment fatigue, and a longer useful life for your assets.
Keeping voltage under control helps keep costs under control.
Surge protection devices help facilities meet industrial safety standards like IEC 61643, UL 1449, and NFPA 70 (NEC). Compliance isn’t just about passing inspections — it’s about reducing liability and ensuring resilience in high-risk environments.
A surge protection device (SPD), previously known as a transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS), is designed to absorb and divert high-current surges to ground and bypass your equipment. The backbone of every SPD is the metal oxide varistor (or MOV). The MOV is a solid-state device that normally has very high impedance. When the applied voltage suddenly exceeds the “breakdown voltage,” the MOV acts as a very high-speed switch and diverts the energy to ground.
Only surge protection that is properly sized and grounded can be successful in preventing equipment damage. For maximum protection, SPDs should be installed as close to the protected equipment as possible, and cable lengths should be as short and straight as possible to minimize the resistive path of the circuit to ground. Anything less than a low grounding and bonding impedance will cause surge energy to be diverted throughout the facility with potentially hazardous effects.
Although surges cannot be eliminated, they can be mitigated through a surge protection solution, thereby reducing their damaging effect. This leads to greater reliability and overall improved productivity. In this regard, surge protection is an inexpensive form of electrical system insurance.
Optimized by Seraphinite Accelerator
