TVSS Lightning and

Equipment Protection
Presented by

Scott Peele PE

TVSS Lightning and Equipment

Protection
O
O
O
O
O

What is a Surge or Lightning.

Coupling on the electrical system
Understanding TVSS or SPD protection
Grounding for Lightning
Recommended Practices

What is a Surge?
O
O

A surge is a Transient
A Transient can be classified into two
categories, impulsive and oscillatory

Impulsive
O

This is the category that TVSS (Transient

Voltage Surge Suppressor) SPD Surge
Protection Device) equipment is designed
to mitigate.

Sources of Transients
O

Lightning
Z
Z

Static
Arc Welding

Switching
Z
Z
Z

contactor
relays
SCRs

1989-93 Ave Lightning Flash Density

Key
# of cloud to
ground flashes
per sq kM/year

http://Lightning Detection Network

Lightning directly attaches and couples into power lines

Internal Transient Sources

Location Exposure Categories for Surge

A

Underground
Service Connection

Overhead
Service
Connection

Applicable Standards for surge protection at locations A, B and C

IEEE C62.41 Cat. A

IEEE C62.62
UL 1449

IEEE C62.41 Cat. B

IEEE C62.62
UL 1449

IEEE C62.41 Cat. C

IEEE C62.62
IEEE C62.1/11

Transient Suppressor Protection

Relative Performance
Percent of
Nominal
Voltage

Typical Energy Limits

of Suppressor

300

Clamping Level Determined

by Energy in Impulse and
Impedance of Source

200

100

Lower Clamping Limit

Nominal
Voltage

106%
87%
1

0.001

0.01

0.1 0.5 1.0

610 30 100

2 10
1000

100 Seconds
10000 Cycles

Lightning and Switching Standard ANSI/IEEE Test

Waveforms
Standard: 100-kHz Ring Wave
0.8
0.4

Standard: Combination Wave

1.0

Rise time = 0.5 sec

10 sec

Rise time = 1.2 sec

0.8
0.6

0.4

-0.4

0.2

-0.8
20

Time in sec

40

Simulates transients generated

by switching loads

Duration = 50 sec

High energy
20

60
40
Time in sec

80

Simulates surges generated by

direct coupled from lightning

From: ANSI/IEEE Standard C62.41 &45

Test Waveforms as Described

by ANSI / IEEE C62.41 - 1991

Category
A3

6kV
200A
100kHz

Category
B3

6kV
500A
100kHz

6kV
1.2/50

Category
C3

20kV
1.2/50sec

10kA
8/20sec

3kA
8/20

Clamping Action of SPD or TVSS

Clamped
Surge
Voltage

Incoming
Surge
Voltage

TVSS
Surge
Current

Protected
Load
Equipment

SPD Application Guide

Transient
Surge
Suppression
Devices
MOV
Avalanche
Diode
Gas
Tube/Gap

Data Lines

Telecom
(Primary)

Telecom
(Secondary)

AC Power
Lines

DC Power &
Automotive










Typical Transient Surge Suppressor Applications

Harris Semiconductor

Gas Tube Suppressor Element

Gas tube
symbol

Spark-over performance for

successive strikes at 10 kV/us,
100V and .02 us/small division

Metal Oxide Varistors

Metal-oxide varistors
various ratings
same symbol

MOV clamping at three

different surge current levels
- 10, 50 and 250A, with 8x20
waves, 40V/small div, 5
us/small div

Silicon Avalanche Diode Suppressor

Element

Silicon
avalanche
devices
symbol

Avalanche diode clamping

performance at two different
current levels. 20 and 140A, 10
x 1000 us impulses 1V/2ms
small div

Interpretation for IEEE Std 10501996

The caution that "the use of one or more isolated ground rods as the
signal reference ground is a safety hazard and is not recommended"
is not explicitly explained in IEEE Std 1050-1996 since it is well
covered in the IEEE Green Book (IEEE Std 142-1991) and the
IEEE Emerald Book (IEEE Std 1100-1996).
The most basic safety hazard is that the isolated ground reference
does not have a direct connection back to the system source which
could prevent protective devices from operating because of the high
impedance that is introduced. Equipment damage from transients
such as lightning is also a real concern.

Grounding Problems
Ohms Law

Voltage = Current X Resistance

Voltage Difference

Ground Resistance
Current Source Lightning
Average current 30,000 amps

Review Ohms Law

Voltage = Current X Resistance
(Potential)

(amps)

(ohms)

BONDING

Ground
Rod

Develop VOLTAGE
Develop VOLTAGE

Current Source Lightning

Average current 30,000 amps

Ground
Rod

The problem from two different services

and service ground points
Lightning

Television
Receiver

Electric
Service
Entrance

CATV
Voltage Difference

Difficult installation
scenarios

Troublesome electrical
condition

Multiple external
connections or services
to components of the
same system

Transient voltages and

currents at data port
connections

System Bonding

Current

Typical electronic
equipment symptoms
Intermittent lock ups, surge
damage of exposed I/O circuits
or corrupted signals

Bonding and Grounding

O
O
O
O

Phone System
Cable System
LAN System
Control and Communication
Z
Z

Transducers
Sensors

Internal Interface

Communications

O
O
O

O
O

Fiber Optic
Optical Coupling
Last resort to float one end of the
grounding this is usually not as successful.
Radio communication
One power source for all systems.

PEC
Type I
O

Life cycle rating category C3

Impulses up to 20,000 per phase
Standard features include: Internal
and external LEDs, Form C
contacts, & Audible Alarm
Choice of Options:
Z
Z
Z
Z

Disconnect
Transient counter
Remote monitor panel
NEMA 3R, 4, or 4x enclosures

10 year parts warranty

PEC Type C-100/C-150

PowerSure Panel Medium Exposure
Liebert AC Power Medium Exposure TVSS, on distribution
and sub-distribution panels, or any medium exposure
locations.
z

Fault Current Rating (AIC): 65 kAIC

Surge Current Ratings: 100kA, 160kA

100kA - 6.0x4.0x3.0
160kA - 8.0x6.0x4.0
z50 EMI/RFI Attenuation: 40 dB

100KA

160KA

Dimensions:

Status Indication: LED, Dry Contacts

Certifications: UL 1449, CUL

Warranty: 5 Years Parts

PEC Type C-50

PowerSure Panel Low Exposure
Liebert AC Power Low Exposure TVSS, on subdistribution panels, branch panels, or equipment in low
exposure locations.
z

Fault Current Rating (AIC): 14 kAIC

Surge Current Ratings: 25kA, 50kA, 100kA

Dimensions: 4.72x4.72x2.36

50 EMI/RFI Attenuation: 40 dB

Status Indication:LED, Dry Contacts

Certifications: UL 1449, CUL

Warranty: 10 Years Parts

UL 1449 Suppressed Voltage Rating

(Standard Voltage Rating)
L-N

L-G

L-L

N-G

120/208

400

400

700

400

277/480

800

800

1500

800

240

700

800

480

1500

1500

Recommended practices
Single Point Grounding of Systems
Visual check grounding system and system
bonding point
Conduct risk evaluation (identify vulnerable
appliances, equipment, and telephone and
computer systems)
Surge protection of external services
Additional internal SPD at equipment
Conductor length short to SPD