Occupational Safety – Lightning and Overvoltage Protection
7 June 2015
Surge Protection Device
10 June 2015
CAT6 POE LV Surge Arrester systems play a key role in protecting communication lines, which are most frequently affected by lightning. Many facilities believe that energy surge arresters protect their systems; however, communication lines located in the most critical systems are the ones most frequently affected by lightning, and unfortunately it is impossible to protect these systems without using CAT6 POE LV surge arrester systems. Lightning impulses can come from both power lines and data lines. Even if lightning does not strike directly, these lines are affected by the magnetic field. The magnetic field effect causes serious damage, especially to the cards at the inputs of camera, switch, PLC, automation, and SCADA systems.
In solar power plants, inverters and SCADA systems are also frequently damaged via communication lines. Remote monitoring systems of inverters are damaged by lightning impulses coming through CAT6 lines, causing inverter cards to burn. To prevent this, POE surge arresters must definitely be used at both input and output points.
If POE surge arrester systems contain only diode semiconductor elements, they can be easily damaged; to prevent this, they must be based on gas discharge tube technology, i.e., Safetec technology, as in the RAYCAP RAYDAT NET6 POE Surge Arrester System. In this way, unlimited protection against impulses within its capacity is provided.
If we open a separate bracket for the lightning protection of camera systems, an impulse coming to the switch Ethernet line can spread to all cameras through the switch. Therefore, the use of POE surge arresters especially at switch inputs is extremely important. If POE surge arresters are used both at switch inputs and camera inputs, the most effective protection is achieved.
Machine and computer Ethernet lines must also be protected with CAT6 surge arresters. A very critical machine can be damaged by an impulse coming through the Ethernet line, and production may stop.
Protecting POE lines alone is, of course, not sufficient for a facility. The main impulse always comes from power lines; therefore, Type 1+2 and Type 1+2+3 protection must definitely be provided on power lines. However, even a 1 kiloampere impulse coming from POE lines can burn the system. For this reason, CAT6 surge arresters are Type 3 class; they provide sensitive protection, have very low Up levels, and ensure precise protection. CAT6 POE LV surge arrester systems are an indispensable part of a comprehensive system protection.
Over the years, in many solar power plants, inverters were taken out of service due to impulses coming from Ethernet lines; relay inputs burned in wind power plants; cameras were damaged and switches burned in many facilities. Especially in open fields, impulses arising from differences in soil resistivity pose a major risk to these sensitive systems.
CAT6-input POE lines used in patch panels, IP camera systems, data centers, server rooms, and many communication systems are very frequently affected by lightning and sudden overvoltage. Grid impulses, harmonics, and sudden voltage rises can reach up to 15 times the nominal voltage, while lightning impulses can reach up to 25 times. Moreover, even if lightning does not strike the line directly, POE lines are damaged by magnetic effects, causing the connected devices and systems to go out of service and their cards to burn. Therefore, after using a Class 1+2 product in the main power distribution panel, additional protection must be applied to the POE line. These protection modules are connected in series to the system and must be installed immediately in front of the device.
Both ends of a line must definitely be protected. Otherwise, serious damage may occur in the system. In selecting POE line products, choosing the product according to the continuous voltage of your system is very important. Related LV surge arrester systems offer product diversity in the range of 6 V to 75 V. If you select a product below your continuous voltage, problems will occur. As Yılkomer, we carry out the country responsibility of Raycap LV Surge Arrester systems. With the RAYDAT NET6 Series in the CAT6 POE Surge Arrester product group, many critical facilities are protected. You can contact us to get information about CAT6 POE Surge Arrester prices.
You can contact the expert team of the Lightning Protection Center for product selection, site survey, and product supply.
