January 2019

SPD APPLICATION GUIDE

According to IEC 61643-12(2018) and HD 60364-5-53(2016)

Igor Juricev;Application Engineer

www.raycap.com
1. Applicable standards
2. Origin of transient overvoltages
3. Lightning protection zones (LPZ)
4. Partial lightning current calculation
5. SPD classification
6. SPD selection
7. Proper installation of SPD
8. OCPD (over-current protective devices) for
SPD protection)

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 STANDARDS

EN/IEC 62305-1 Protection against lightning-Part

1:General principles
EN/IEC 62305-2 Protection against lightning-Part
2: Risk managment
EN /IEC62305-3 Protection against lightning-Part
3:Physical damage to structure and life hazard
EN/IEC 62305-4Protection against lightnung-Part
4:Electrical and electronic systems within
structures

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 STANDARDS

EN/IEC 61643-11:Ed 1.0Low-voltage surge

protective devices- Part 11;Devices connected to
low voltage power systems-Requirments and test
methods
EN/IEC 61643-12 Low –voltage surge protective
devices-Part 12 Surge protective devices
connected to low voltage power systems-
Selection and application principles

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 STANDARDS

EN/IEC 61643-21Low voltage surge protective

devices-Part 21: Surge protective devices
connected to telecommunications and signalling
networks-Performance requirments and testing
methods
EN/IEC 61643-22,Low voltage surge protective
devices-Part 22: Surge protective devices
connected to telecommunications and signalling
networks-Selection and application principles

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 STANDARDS

EN/IEC 61643-31 Ed1:Low voltage surge

protective devices-Part 31:Requirments and test
methods for SPDs for photovoltaic installations
EN/IEC 61643-32/Ed1:Low voltage surge
protective devices-Part 32:Surge protective
devices for specific use including d.c.-Selection
and application principles for SPDs connected to
photovoltaic installations

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 STANDARDS

EN/IEC 60364-4-44 Electrical installations of

buildings-Part 4-44 Protection for safety-
Protection against voltage disturbances and
electromagnetic disturbances-Clause
443:Protection against overvoltages of
atmospheric origin or due to switching
EN-HD/IEC 60364-5-53 Low voltage electrical
installations-Part 5-53:Selection and erection of
electrical equipment-Isolation,switching and
control-Clause 534:Devices for protection against
overvoltages

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ORIGIN OF TRANSIENT OVERVOLTAGES

1. direct strikes (S1) to the external lightning

protection system (LPS) of the building or
lightning flashes near (S2) to the buildings

2. direct strikes (S3) and lightning induced currents

(S4) distributed into the electrical network

3. overvoltages created by the distribution network,

e.g., those due to switching operations

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 TYPE OF STRIKES

S1 Strike to the structure

S2 Strike near the structure

S3 Strike to incoming service(s)

S4 Strike near the incoming service(s)

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ORIGIN OF TRANSIENT OVERVOLTAGES

Higher values Lower values

99 % < 125 kA 99 % > 5 kA

98 % < 102 kA 97 % > 7 kA
95 % < 73 kA 85 % > 11.9 kA

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LIGHTNING PROTECTION ZONES (LPZ)

LPZ 0A Direct strikes, full lightning current, full magnetic field

LPZ 0B No direct strikes, partial lightning or induced current,

full magnetic field

LPZ 1 No direct strikes, partial lightning or induced current,

damped magnetic field

LPZ 2 No direct strikes, induced current,

further damped magnetic field

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 SPD CLASSIFICATION

LPZ 1 Surge protective devices designed to protect against

partial lightning currents.Intended to protect at the boundry
LPZ OB/ LPZ1.Tested with current wave 10/350.

LPZ 2 Surge protective devices designed to protect against

induced currents.Tested wit current wave 8/20 and intended to
protect at the boundry LPZ 1/LPZ2.

LPZ 3 Surge protective devices designed to protect against

induced currents and switchings overvoltages.Tested with
hybrid voltage wave 1.2/50 and current wave 8/20

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LIGHTNING PROTECTION ZONES (LPZ)

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SURGE CURRENT VALUES (EXTRACT FROM IEC 62305-1)

LPL FLASH TO STRUCTURE FLASH TO DIRECT AND INDIRECT

STRUCTURE FLASHES TO THE SERVICE
S1 (10/350) S1 (8/20) S2 (8/20) S3 (10/350) S4 (8/20)

1phase 3phase Inductive Induced 1phase 3phase Inductive

coupling current coupling
I 50 kA 25 kA 10 kA 0,2 kA 20 kA 10 kA 5 kA
II 35 kA 17,5 kA 7,5 kA 0,15 kA 15 kA 7,5 kA 3,75 kA
III / IV 25 kA 12,5 kA 5 kA 0,1 kA 10 kA 5 kA 2,5 kA

 Values per conductor

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PARTIAL LIGHTNING CURRENT CALCULATION

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 SPD CLASSIFICATION

UIn 2 UIn 3
UIn 1 SPD T 1 UP1 2.5 kV SPD T 2 UP2 1.5 kV SPD T UP3
4 kV
Zone Zone 3 Zone PD
0/1 1/2 2/3

LPZ Test class of SPD in acc. to Category of SPD in acc.

zones IEC 61643-11 to IEC 61643-21

0/1 Test class 1 D1

1/2 Test class 2 C2
2/3 Test class 3 C1

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 SPD SELECTION
 NO LPS (Lightning Protective System)

LPL FLASH TO STRUCTURE FLASH TO STRUCTURE DIRECT AND INDIRECT FLASHES

TO THE SERVICE
S1 (10/350) S1 (8/20) S2 (8/20) S3 (10/350) S4 (8/20)
1phase 3phase Inductive Induced 1phase 3phase Inductive
coupling current coupling
III / IV 25 kA 12,5 kA 5 kA 0,1 kA 10 kA 5 kA 2,5 kA

 Values are per conductor

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 SPD SELECTION
 NO LPS (Lightning Protective System)

LPL FLASH TO STRUCTURE FLASH TO STRUCTURE DIRECT AND INDIRECT FLASHES

TO THE SERVICE
S1 (10/350) S1 (8/20) S2 (8/20) S3 (10/350) S4 (8/20)
1phase 3phase Inductive Induced 1phase 3phase Inductive
coupling current coupling
III / IV 25 kA 12,5 kA 5 kA 0,1 kA 10 kA 5 kA 2,5 kA

 Values per conductor

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 SPD SELECTION
 With LPS (Lightning Protective System)

LPL FLASH TO STRUCTURE FLASH TO STRUCTURE DIRECT AND INDIRECT FLASHES

TO THE SERVICE
S1 (10/350) S1 (8/20) S2 (8/20) S3 (10/350) S4 (8/20)
1phase 3phase Inductive Induced 1phase 3phase Inductive
coupling current coupling
III / IV 25 kA 12,5 kA 5 kA 0,1 kA 10 kA 5 kA 2,5 kA

 Values per conductor

This information was prepared by Raycap and is confidential; it may not be copied, reproduced, disclosed or distributed without prior written consent from Raycap. 19
 SPD SELECTION (based on Uw)

This information was prepared by Raycap and is confidential; it may not be copied, reproduced, disclosed or distributed without prior written consent from Raycap. 20
 SPD SELECTION(protective distances)
• The lead lenght connecting the SPD does not exceed 50 cm, the
distance between SPD and equipment is shorter than 10 meters
and Up is bellow 0.8xUw
• The lead length connecting the SPD does not exceed 50 cm, the
distance between SPD and equipment is greater than 10 m but 2 x
Up remains below 0.8xUw
• The lead length connecting the SPD exceeds 50 cm, the distance
between SPD and equipment is shorter than 10 m and Up/f is
bellow Uw
• The lead length connecting the SPD exceed 50 cm, the distance
between SPD and equipment is more than 10 m but 2 x Up/f
remains below Uw
Note: Up/f= voltage at the connection point of the SPD assembly resulting from
The voltage protection level of the SPD with possible SPD disconnector and the
Wiring voltage drop in the leads/connection

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 SPD INSTALLATION

Example: strike of 10 kA (8/20 μs),

conductor length 2 m

Voltage drop: UR ~ 20 V
UL ~ 2500 V

Typically:1kV/meter

V(t) = iR + Ldi/dt

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 SPD INSTALLATION

Rule: earthing conductor min.cross sectional area:

- Class I/1 SPD = 16 mm2
-ClassII,III/T2,T3 SPD = 6 mm2
Rule: live conductor min. cross sectional area:
-ClassI/T1 SPD = 6 mm2
-ClassII,III/T2,T3 SPD = 2.5 mm2

This information was prepared by Raycap and is confidential; it may not be copied, reproduced, disclosed or distributed without prior written consent from Raycap. 23
 SPD INSTALLATION (CT1)

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 SPD INSTALLATION (CT2)

F1
L1
L2

L3
N
PE

F2

SPD SPD SPD

SPD

IEC 1916/08

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 SPD INSTALLATION
CT1(connection type) is used:
-TN-C systems
-TN-C-S systems
-TN-S systems
-TT systems (only after the RCD)
-IT systems

CT2(connection type) is used

-TT systems
-IT systems
-TN-C-S systems
-TN-S systems

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OCPD SELECTION WITH OVERCURRENT PROTECTION

 OCPD1 > OCPD SPD ⇨ OCPD 2

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SELECTION ON OCPD SELECTIVITY

 OCPD 1 > OCPD 2= OCPD1/1.6 FOR gG

 /1.45 FOR MCB


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0CPD SELECTION ON ISCCR

 ISCCR > ISCCR SPD ⇨ OCPD 2

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FUSE SELECTION (from 61643-12)

Typical Typical Pre-arcing value, crest current from simplified formula

rated and real testing
current Cyl gG NH gG
of the
fuse Pre-arcing Calculated After test Ratio Pre-arcing Calculated After test Ratio
I²t 8/20 8/20 I²t 10/350 10/350
25 800 7,6 5 0,66
32 1 300 9,6 7 0,73
40 2 500 13,4 10 0,75
50 4 200 17,3 15 0,87
63 7 500 23,1 17 0,73
80 14 500 32,2 25 0,78
100 24 000 41,4 30 0,72 20 000 8,8 5 0,57
125 40 000 53,4 40 0,75 33 000 11,3 7 0,62
160 60 000 15,3 10 0,65
200 100 000 19,75 15 0,76
250 200 000 27,93 20 0,72
315 300 000 34,21 25 0,73

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 THE METHOD OF SPD SELECTION

 PV installation without LPS

 all SPDs are class 2 / type 2

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 THE METHOD OF SPD SELECTION

 PV installation with LPS

 2 & 3: class 1 / type 1 SPD

 1 & 4 class 2 / type 2 SPD

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 THE METHOD OF SPD SELECTION

 PV installation with LPS (safety distance is not kept)

 2 & 3 always class 1 / type 1 SPD

 if only SPD at location 1: class 2 / type 2 SPD
 1 & 4 class 1 / type1 SPD
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 CLASS I /TYPE 1 SPD SELECTION

Scenarios to select Class 1/Type 1 SPD:

1. According IEC/EN 62305 series: if no risk

assesment is calculated, the minimum partial
lightning current for class 1/Type 1 SPD is 12,5kA
(10/350);

2. According IEC /EN 61643-32

a. green field PV installations
b. roof PV installations

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 CLASS I /TYPE 1 SPD SELECTION

According IEC /EN 61643-32

a. green field PV installation
LPL Voltage limiting SPD
Lightning protection level ITOTAL
10/350 IIMP

III or IV 100 kA 5 kA 10 kA

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 CLASS I /TYPE 1 SPD SELECTION

According IEC /EN 61643-32

b. roof PV installations
LPL Number of external down-conductors
Lightning protection <4 ≥4
level
10/350 IIMP ITOTAL IIMP ITOTAL
I 200 kA 10 kA 20 kA 5 kA 10 kA
II 150 kA 7,5 kA 15 kA 3,75 kA 7,5 kA
III 100 kA 5 kA 10 kA 2,5 kA 5 kA

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 SPD CONNECTIONS ON PV SIDE

Of all of the above, Y connection is the most universal, since it offers many
advantages over the others. Let me highlight the essential ones:
 regardless of the configuration of the photovoltaic generator, there is no
possibility of connection with earth (which there is with all other connections).
The error of earth connection results in the inverter switching off, which
means the loss of exploitation of the photovoltaic plant and the additional
cost of defect remedy and intervention of the system maintenance.
 protective level Up is equal in all directions (+ against -, - against PE and +
against PE) and lowest when compared to other connections.

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