Site Testing of Surge Counters

ABB surge counters are considered commissioning and maintenance free. This applies to all current
and past generations of ABB/ASEA surge counters, including EXCOUNT-A, EXCOUNT-I and
EXCOUNT-II.

Hence, no practical test which the client can perform on site to check the function of EXCOUNT is
considered necessary. As part of the routine tests after production, the counter is subjected to a number
of impulses with waveshape 8/20 microsec. This is to check that the counter steps when it should and is
considered valid for the in-service life of the counter. It is not possible to apply this kind of test at site
with any kind of accuracy, since a form of impulse generator is required.

The circuit used in our production facility involves (in principle) charging of a capacitor and then quickly
discharging it by short circuit. Because of the counter’s step/no-step characteristics, the resultant current
and/or voltage may be quite high. Other (non-ABB) counters may have other internals which makes
site-testing a possible option. However, we feel that this can NOT be done with complete safety on site
with EXCOUNT, and therefore strongly recommend against it.

We thus do not propose any site tests for EXCOUNT-A, -I or -II (or other ABB/ASEA surge counters).
We furthermore must stress that we cannot take any responsibility for the safety aspects of any circuit
built for site testing, should our customer's decide to do so at their own risk. .

In conclusion, all ABB surge counters are adequately routine tested before leaving the factory to ensure
their functionality. No additional testing or commissioning checks are considered warranted or
necessary at installation or before taking the surge counters into service.