Causes of Surges:

(1) External Surge:

lightning strikes :Direct Stroke , Indirect Stroke
(2) Internal Surge:
Switching Surge:
Switching on/off of inductive loads.
Tripped circuit breakers and fuses.
Short circuits.
Malfunctions caused by the power company.
Insulation Failures:
Arcing Ground:
Ignition and interruption to electric arc.

Difference between Surge arrestor (Lighting Arrestor) and Surge

Suppressor:

Surge arresters and Surge Suppressor both are used to protect equipment from
surges. But, there is confusion between the application of surge arrestors /
Lighting arrestor and surge suppressors.
The main differences between a lightning arrester and a surge arrester are its
fault clearing time and its position
Both are doing the same job, but still both are not same

Size of Surge Protection Device (SPD) does not depend

on Panel Size:

The kA rating of an SPD (surge rating) is one of the most misleading terms.
We normally use 50KA SPD to protect 50KA panel.
The kA rating of the surge arresters has nothing to do with the fault current
rating of electrical distribution board. We can fit a 40kA surge arrester in a
domestic board with a fault current rating of less than 5kA
When a surge enters a panel, it does not know the size of the panel. So It is
totally miscalculation for use 50KA SPD for 50KA Panel
There is a normal Practice that larger panels need larger SPD, but surges are
indifferent to panel size.
The largest surge that can enter a buildings wiring is 10kA, as explained in
the IEEE C62.41 standard. So why would we need a SPD rated for 100KA or
200kA.

Type of SPD:
:Type 1 SPD

Protection for : Transient Over voltages due to Direct Lightning Strokes

1

Location : It is installed at any location between the secondary of the utility

service transformer and the service entrance primary disconnection

It is installed in the main electrical switchboard when the building is equipped

with a lightning protection system.
It protects against external surges caused by lightning or utility capacitor bank
switching.
These devices to discharging a very high lightning current from earth to the
power distribution system.
Current ratings: 10Ka to 35Ka 10/350s wave form.

Required Dedicated Fuse / Circuit Breaker for SPD : No

Risk Factor : Very strong risk Area