 Power lines are subjected to various

disturbances …….

 Spikes & surges

 In electrical engineering, spikes are fast, short

duration electrical transients in voltage (voltage
spikes), current (current spike), or transferred
energy (energy spikes) in an electrical circuit.
 Eighty percent of electrical problems result from
wiring or grounding issues. Twenty percent
occur because an event in the distribution
system.

 To reduce potentially damaging spikes or

power surges, keep in mind this basic rule:
Whenever possible, try to isolate sensitive
electronic products from power-hungry
appliances:
Spikes & Surges are caused by
 lightning strikes
 Motors & refrigerators switch on-off
 tripped circuit breakers
 short circuits
 power transitions in other large equipment on
the same power line
 malfunctions caused by the power company
 electromagnetic pulses (EMP) with
electromagnetic energy distributed typically up
to the 100 kHz and 1 MHz frequency range.
 Inductive spikes
Sensitive appliances and home electronics

 Personal computers and modems

 VCRs, DVD players and stereo equipment
 Answering machines and fax machines
 Home security systems
 Garage door openers
 Digital clocks
 Any piece of equipment that needs constant,
uninterrupted power
 Line filters are used to suppress the
disturbances in main supply i.e. household ac
supply.

 Mainly consist of
capacitors
inductors

 The filter capacitor has to endure transients

for years without failure, or at worst, failing
without exploding, catching fire, or subjecting
the user to the risk of shock.
A "typical" basic filter using line-filter capacitors:
          C1=0.1 uF (the X capacitor)
          C2=4700 pF (the Y capacitors)
          L1=22 mH common-mode choke
          R1=1M ohm bleeder resistor 
 keep potentially disruptive or damaging
line transients and EMI out of susceptible
equipment. 

 The second is to suppress these line

disturbances at the source.

 The third use of line-filter capacitors is in

a sort of snubber called a "spark
quencher"
A spark quencher is a potted series R-C
network, where the capacitor is typically
from 0.01 to 2 uF, and  the resistor is
from 10 to 500 ohms.  The resistor
lowers the "Q" to suppress L-C ringing.
      Line-filter capacitors come in two
general classes (as defined by the
International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC), the international
standards organization for electrical and
electronics matters) and must be
approved by whichever safety agency
holds sway where the equipment will be
sold.
 TV , monitor, music system etc operate from ac
mains

 Each one of them contains step down transformer

and rectifier circuit to operate the appliance

 One particular source of unwanted noise comes from

the inter winding capacitance of transformer.

 The inter winding capacitance has the effect of

introducing noise in the form of voltage spikes at the
output of secondary winding .
 This high voltage spikes need to be filtered out
before the rectifier circuit for safety of the
circuit.

 Filtering of voltage spikes is more important in

case of SMPS as it operates on square wave at
high frequency normally at a range of 60 – 250
khz
 CLASSIFIED INTO TWO TYPES
 1 :- Class x
 2:- Class y

CLASS X :- capacitors used in applications where

damage to capacitor will not lead to the danger
of electrical shock .
 CLASS Y:- capacitor used in application where
damage to capacitor may involve danger of
electrical shock .

 These X and Y classification are further divided

into subcategories depending upon peak voltage
, insulation and application .
 This class will be called for in installation
category III applications such as for an
industrial printer or minicomputer which is
connected to a 3-phase line.
 Industrial lighting ballasts can also fall into
this category. These capacitors are impulse
tested with 4.0kV if their value is 1.0μF or less.
For
 larger values the impulse voltage is 4.0kV/ÖC
(in μF).
 The most common class of X capacitor as it
covers applications using line voltages from 150
to 250VAC (nominal) which are plugged into
ordinary wall outlets.
 In Europe this covers a lot of ground:
Computers, hair dryers, fax machines, hand
power tools and so on.
 These capacitors are impulse tested with 2.5kV
if their value is 1.0μF or less. For larger values
the impulse voltage is 2.5kV/ÖC (in μF).
 A general purpose category with no impulse
test.

 To date no known equipment standard allows

the use of class X3 capacitors.

 It might be allowed in the future in devices

which are never used except under the
supervision of an operator, for example in a
hand power tool.
 For bridging reinforced or double insulation. This
is a new category.

 In Europe in the past one was required to use

two separate capacitors in series to bridge
double insulation requirements.

 Now one class Y1 capacitor is allowed. These

capacitors are impulse tested with 8kV and are
suitable for line voltages of up to 250VAC
(nominal).
 The most popular type. Such a capacitor is
allowed to bridge basic and supplementary
insulation with line voltages up to 250VAC
(nominal).

 This is the normal case for power supplies used

in data processing equipment.

 These capacitors are impulse tested with 5kV.

 For bridging basic and supplementary insulation
with line voltages up to 250VAC (nominal) but
without an impulse test.

 To date no known equipment standard allows

the use of class Y3 capacitors .

 although it is presently being considered for use

on the secondary side of a transformer.
 For applications with line voltages up to 150VAC
(nominal) with an impulse test of 2.5kV

 For bridging basic and supplementary insulation

 No known equipment standard yet allows the

use of Y4 capacitors.
 FUSIBLE LINK : TYPE OF
OVERCURRENT PROTECTION DEVICE.

 Its essential component is a metal wire

or strip that melts when too much
current flows, which breaks the circuit in
which it is connected

 essential part of a power distribution

system to prevent fire or damage
 Rated current IN : maximum current
that the fuse can tolerate.
 The I2t value : measure of the energy
required to blow the fuse element.
 Voltage drop : It’s the voltage drop
across the fuse.
 Breaking capacity : breaking capacity is
the maximum current that can safely be
interrupted by the fuse
MATERIAL USED & ADVANTAGES :
1) GLASS FUSES :
visible for inspection purposes
But low breaking capacity
15A , 250 Vac less.

2) CERAMIC FUSES :
higher breaking capacity
But low visibility.
 body (width x height x depth)
 blade or tag (width x height x depth)
 overall length of the fuse (when the fuse
features blades or tags)
 overall width of the fuse (when the fuse
features 2 bodies)
 width of the mounting holes (when the
fuse features tags)
 distance between blades (when radially
configured)
 fixing centre (when the fuse features
tags - see below)
 Automotive fuses : protect the wiring and
electrical equipment for vehicles.
 Bosch type :Bosch type fuses are used in
old (often European) automobiles
 Lucas type :Lucas type fuses are used in
old British made or assembled
automobiles
 High voltage fuses : used on power
systems up to 115,000 volts AC.
 200 A Industrial fuse.
80 kA breaking capacity.

ELECTRONIC SYMBOL
IEC : UPPER
AMERICAN : LOWER
2
MARKINGS ONE CAN
FOUND ON FUSE
 A varistor is an electronic component
with a significant non-ohmic current-
voltage characteristic.
 Metal oxide variable resistor.
 contains a ceramic mass of zinc oxide
grains, in a matrix of other metal oxides
(such as small amounts of bismuth,
cobalt, manganese) sandwiched between
two metal plates (the electrodes).
 15.5 mm disk dia (0.61 inches)

5.4 mm disk thickness (0.21 inches)

0.8 mm dia wire lead (20 AWG)

505 VDC nominal (620V @ 1mA)

80 joules

1025 V max voltage

4500 Amp max current

385 VAC RMS max continuous

385 volt MOV 0.6 W avg power dissipation

240 pF capacitance