SURGE-PROTECTED OUTLETS DO NOT PROTECT AGAINST LIGHTNING

In our country, especially in corporate markets selling electronic devices, socket-type surge arresters are sold under the name of surge-protected sockets against lightning. We have observed that these products are sold to end users at very high prices with the claim that your expensive devices will not be damaged by lightning. And the end user assumes that by using these products, they are protecting their television and refrigerator against lightning and strong sudden overvoltage surges. When we approach the issue from a technical perspective, a misconception caused by the lack of expertise of both the seller and the buyer is spreading rapidly in the sector. In this article, we wanted to explain that surge-protected sockets do not provide protection against lightning surges and strong impulses, that we are deceiving ourselves, and that serious damage occurs in a possible incident.

According to the IEC 62305 standard and the Lightning Protection Regulation, we must use AG Surge Arrester products to protect our electrical systems against lightning and sudden overvoltage surges. This use is also mandatory within the scope of Electrical Internal Installation Regulation Article 43. The system that needs to be installed here is staged protection, where Type 1+2 is used in main incoming panels; Type 2 in sub-panels; Type 3 in front of devices; additionally, Type 3 surge arresters should be used on modem, satellite lines, Ethernet, and Telecom lines. The products sold under the name of surge-protected sockets that you use here are sensitive protection products in the Type 3 category. And they are not products that provide protection against lightning surges.

For a product to provide protection against lightning surges, it must be tested on the 10/350ms waveform; products that protect against grid surges, harmonics, and sudden voltage peaks are tested on the 8/20ms waveform. The surge-protected sockets mentioned here are simple varistor-containing products that are only capable of suppressing a few kiloampere peaks on the 8/20ms waveform. In other words, they are not products that protect the system when a 100kA lightning surge arrives or when a grid surge exceeding 10kA occurs, as the user expects. To explain further, these products cannot even provide protection against a 1 kiloampere lightning surge because they do not have such capabilities. However, after the sale of many televisions and white goods, they are sold as lightning-protected sockets, thus misleading the user.

If you want your systems to be protected against lightning, for example, let us consider the television; first of all, a lightning-protected product that provides Type 1+2 or Type 1+2+3 protection with a phase Iimp value of not less than 25kA must be used in your main incoming panel. These products must be used in parallel at the main transformer LV output, generator, and UPS outputs. Raycap Protec T1HS Type 1+2 and Raycap Probloc Type 1+2 100kA protected products are ideal for these points. If the external lightning protection system is insulated, Type 2 or Type 2+3 surge arresters with 40kA protection should be used in floor panels. The use of this product at the apartment entrance is also correct. Raycap Protec C 160/320 Type 2 40kA coded product is ideal for this point of use. After making these two main protections, Type 3 surge-protected sockets can be used in the system for possible residual spikes. In other words, if you do not have protection in the previous panels, it is not possible to protect your system against lightning with only a surge-protected socket.

Lightning does not only enter the system through power; satellite lines also carry lightning, and in many buildings, surges coming from satellite lines damage televisions. At this point, satellite line coaxial protection should be provided. Raydat TV75 series is the product we recommend in this regard. In addition, if the television has an internet connection, RJ11 line protection should be applied.

In summary, as in every subject, serious economic damages occur because systems are not protected while commercial income is obtained as a result of misleading consumers. A lightning protection system is formed as a result of engineering design with correct products. It is not a matter of installing a box and protecting your system against everything as in some products. The design must be carried out in accordance with IEC standards. Because in our country, in parallel with global warming, 1 million lightning strikes occur per year!

As Yılkomer, our warning is primarily to position panel-type AG Surge Arrester products in your building and site. You can apply to Yılkomer for a free site survey for discovery, product selection, and implementation.

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