What Lightning Surge Arresters Are and Why You Need One？

In today’s world, protecting electrical systems from unexpected voltage spikes is crucial, especially in industrial environments. High-voltage surge arresters, particularly lightning surge arresters, are essential devices that ensure the safety and longevity of your electrical equipment.

What are lightning surge arresters?

A high-voltage surge arrester, often referred to as a lightning surge arrester, is a protective device that shields electrical equipment from damaging voltage surges. These surges can result from lightning strikes, switching operations, or other electrical disturbances. The most common type of surge arrester is the metal oxide surge arrester (MOSA), which utilizes metal oxide varistors (MOVs) to absorb and divert excessive voltage, thus preventing it from reaching sensitive equipment.

Surge arresters are critical in various surge arrester applications, including power transmission and distribution networks, industrial facilities, and large-scale electrical installations. They work by detecting overvoltage conditions and instantly diverting the excess energy to the ground, thereby protecting the electrical system.

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Where do you use lightning surge arresters?

The placement of a surge arrester is critical to its effectiveness in protecting your electrical system. Here are the key locations where surge arresters should be installed:

• At the Main Entry Point

The primary installation point for a high-voltage surge arrester is where electrical power enters your facility, such as at the main switchgear or transformer. This placement ensures that surges are intercepted before they can spread throughout the system.

• Near Critical Equipment

Surge arresters should be installed close to high-value or sensitive equipment, such as transformers, generators, or control panels. This proximity helps to protect these critical components from potential damage.

• In High-Risk Areas

Any part of your electrical system that is exposed to a high likelihood of surges, such as areas prone to lightning strikes or locations with long cable runs, should be equipped with surge arresters.

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Do you need lightning surge arresters?

If your electrical system is exposed to the risk of voltage surges—whether from lightning, switching operations, or other sources—then installing a lightning surge arrester is essential. Surge arresters are especially important in industrial and high-voltage applications where the cost of equipment failure can be extremely high.

Moreover, integrating surge arresters with other protective devices like surge protection devices (SPDs) enhances the overall safety of your electrical system. While surge arresters handle large surges, SPDs can be used to protect specific equipment and components by clamping down residual surges that the surge arrester may not fully absorb.

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High-voltage surge arresters, particularly lightning surge arresters, are indispensable in protecting your electrical systems from potentially devastating voltage spikes. While they have some limitations, such as a finite lifespan and maintenance needs, their role in ensuring the safety and reliability of your electrical infrastructure cannot be overstated.

By strategically placing surge arresters at key points in your system and complementing them with surge protection devices, you can create a robust defense against overvoltage conditions. Whether you’re managing an industrial facility, a power distribution network, or any high-voltage environment, investing in these protective devices is a wise decision that can save you from costly repairs and downtime.

When picking a surge arrester, consider how well it performs, where it will be used, and how easy it is to maintain. GRL Group offers a wide range of surge arresters to suit different industrial needs. And if you have special requirements, our team can help with custom solutions.