Use of LV Surge Arresters in 5V-12V-24V-48V DC/AC Low-Current, Low-Voltage Systems

In our country, LV Surge Protector products are generally preferred for Panel Type protections. This usage is mandatory. As we always mention, B+C class and C class LV Surge Protector systems should be installed in our main and secondary panels to protect against lightning and grid surges. However, to fully protect data lines and low-voltage energy lines, we should also use sensitive protection Surge Protector systems. The reason is that the products used in the main panel are responsible for suppressing the main surges at 220 V continuous voltage level, around 100 kA – 50 kA, and their Up values are around 1.3 kV, reducing the incoming high voltage to this level. However, a system with 12 V – 24 V and currents ranging from 20-0.2 mA, with Up levels around 0.25, requires additional protection. These points can be disabled even with a 1 kA surge.

Terminal type surge protectors used for protecting sensitive systems

Low-Voltage Surge Protectors should primarily be selected according to the continuous voltage of the system. The continuous voltage value is our reference point. For a system with a continuous voltage of 9 V, a higher stage product can be selected. For example, after using a 220 V product in the main power panel for lightning protection of camera systems, once the system converts to 12 V, a D class 12 V LV Surge Protector should be selected. The second selection criterion for low-voltage surge protectors is whether the system is DC or AC, as the sinusoidal characteristic of the voltage directly affects product selection.

Moreover, the maximum current value that can pass through the product must match the current in the system. For a 20 Amp system, a product of the same level should be selected. Looking at low-voltage systems, protection is required for all PLC and automation systems, rectifier outputs, CCTV systems, gas distribution terminals, fire alarm systems, and generally all electrical infrastructures. As sensitivity increases, system intervention and downtime make recovery very difficult. Therefore, as Lightning Protection Center, we strongly recommend using low-voltage surge protectors.

You can contact Yılkomer engineers for product selection and pricing for low-voltage surge protectors in our stock. Additionally, our expert application team can securely protect your systems.

Of course, application and installation are as important as product selection. For D class products that can be connected in series or parallel depending on the system and product features, series connection is usually preferred when it is desired that the system shuts down when the product receives a surge, and parallel connection is preferred when it is desired that the system remains unaffected. Additionally, products can be monitored remotely via the alarm contact output feature.