Correct Low-Voltage SPD Selection for Homes with Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations

Today, electric vehicles are undergoing a rapid transformation. By 2040, it is expected that 80% of the vehicles on the roads will be electric. In this rapid rise, the widespread adoption of charging stations and the establishment of infrastructure are extremely important. Users living in detached houses and owning their own charging stations will naturally experience a smoother transition at this point. The expansion of charging infrastructure, the increase in home charging devices in detached houses, and user satisfaction will be key factors accelerating the preference for electric vehicles.

Electric vehicles are technological marvels of modern times, very different from internal combustion engines, capable of AC and DC charging, equipped with hundreds of batteries usually placed under the vehicle, and capable of operating at voltages up to 800V. Electric vehicles that can easily reach ranges of 500 km and above can use their batteries without problems for up to 8 years when charged correctly. After the initial investment cost, these vehicles do not require fuel purchases; however, charging them correctly—more importantly, charging them safely—is crucial.

At this point, the risk of sudden overvoltage and lightning surges, which is Yılkomer’s area of expertise, comes to the forefront. Imagine a strong surge coming from the grid while charging your vehicle one day, seriously damaging both your charging unit and your vehicle’s electronics! A nearby lightning strike inducing your vehicle through the lines with a peak value of 200 kA—just thinking about it is frightening. With surges reaching 25 ns and temperatures of 28,000°C, charging units have almost no chance of survival, and the fate of the vehicle is extremely risky. As technology advances, the need for protection increases at the same rate. Therefore, you must protect your home, charging unit, and vehicle by correctly selecting and designing Low Voltage Surge Protection Device (SPD) systems.

With Raycap low-voltage SPD systems, we strongly recommend protecting all your systems against lightning, grid surges, harmonics, and sudden overvoltage events.

When it comes to product selection, since home charging stations use AC vehicle supply, we recommend using the strongest and most sensitive AC protection products.

At the main energy distribution panel of the facility, two products stand out. Remember, the product installed here will protect not only your vehicle and charging station but also all systems within the facility.

The primary product required here is a protection panel consisting of Raycap Rayvoss Strikesorb 80-B units. With 200 kA protection per phase, 1 ns response time, unlimited surge capacity, a 20-year service life, and a 10-year warranty, Rayvoss stands out as a leading protection solution.

In the classic SPD series, the Raycap PROTEC T1HS Type 1+2 main panel protection series is the most suitable product. With a maximum protection level of 130 kA, it defends your main panel with outstanding technology. It is the ideal product for safely charging your vehicle in rainy conditions.

Specifically for electric vehicle charging stations, we must move to sensitive protection at the supply level. With the Raycap PROTEC ASL Type 1+2+3 100 kA Series, we can provide secondary protection against the most sensitive surges.

In addition to SPDs, residual current devices (RCDs) used in the facility are also extremely important. For electric vehicle charging stations, the use of Type A RCDs for AC supplies and Type B RCDs for DC supplies will prevent nuisance tripping. Proper SPD selection and residual current protection are especially critical for DC fast charging units. Incorrect selection may lead to outages at roadside systems, causing inconvenience for charging station operators. In case of damage to vehicles due to insufficient protection, end users retain the right to claim compensation. To avoid such issues, the most ideal product for DC charging stations is the RAYCAP PROBLOC 100 kA Type 1+2, installed directly inside the unit. With its monoblock structure and maintenance-free, cartridge-less design, it provides highly effective protection directly within the device. Additionally, Type B RCDs must be used in DC charging stations.

As the Lightning Protection Center, we provide discovery, product selection, and implementation services for protecting both homes and charging stations in facilities equipped with charging stations.

Combining the world’s strongest brand in low-voltage SPD production, Raycap, with correct engineering, our company aims to keep you safe against the most powerful surges in line with advancing technology.

Remember! Yılkomer ‘Protects Your Values!’