Facts about lightning in South Africa

 How to select Surge Arrestors

 Primary : Class 1 and Class 1 & 2 Combination Product List

PRIMARY SURGE, SPIKE & LIGHTNING PROTECTION
(INCLUDING CLASS 1, CLASS 2, CLASS 3; AND CLASS 1 & 2 COMBINATION ELEMENTS)
Click here to view the full list of Primary : Class 1 , 2 & 3 Products

CLASS 1 - (10/350) LIGHTNING CURRENT ARRESTERS which can withstand direct lightning :

Typical surge handling ability must be 12.5kA (10/350) per phase.

Whenever a building has external lightning protection such as a mast, or conductors on the building, Class 1 lightning current arresters are required.

DEHNport® Single Phase (click here to view product data sheet)
DEHNbloc® Three Phase (click here to view product data sheet)

These units are designed to withstand direct lightning surge currents and are very robust devices, but on their own cannot clamp the voltage to low enough levels to protect sensitive electronics. Thus Class 1 lightning current arresters must always be used in conjunction with Class 2 surge arresters (8/20). Please note that when using a Class 2 surge arrester in conjunction with a Class 1 lightning current arrester you require a minimum of 10 –15 meters of cable between the units for de-coupling. There are special coils available, like the DEHNbridge® , which can be used to simulate 15m of cable.

If you did not use a Class 2 surge arrester in conjunction with the Class 1 lightning current arresters, surge up to 3kV could enter the system and the surge arresters would not operate thus damaging sensitive electronics.

DEHNguard® 275 and Copa ST 280

In all cases you must install a minimum of a Class 2 surge arrester in the main electrical distribution board.

The SANS 10142-1:2003 requires that these surge arresters must withstand a nominal surge current of 5kA and a peak surge current of 10kA. Experience has shown this to be inadequate.

The IEC requires a nominal surge current rating of 10kA and 25kA peak surge current.

All surge arresters must have a disconnection mechanism with a visual indication showing end of life, this can be a mechanical flag or a light.

DEHNventil® TT (25/100 kA) (10/350)

To overcome the problem of co-ordination of Class 1 and Class 2 arresters a combined surge arrester has been developed which eliminates this problem. The DEHNventil® TT makes use of pre-triggering technology which is a combination Class 1 and Class 2 arrester in 1 x packaging. The main advantage of this unit is that it can be used in all applications and offers complete protection and co-ordination with Class 3 arresters that may be installed within the equipment.

A further advantage of this combination is that it halves the clamping voltage Phase to Neutral when compared to the standard method of installing surge arresters from each Phase and Neutral to Earth and it can be used on all types of wiring applications, TNS, TN-C-S and TT earthing systems.

This means you can install the DEHNventil® TT in a container electrical distribution board and have complete protection.

These units can take a direct strike and limit the voltage to less than 1,5kV as required by SANS 10142-1:2003.

DEHNguard® TT (40kA) (8/20)

In cases where a very high level of protection is required but Class 1 is not a requirement we recommend that a DEHNguard® TT be installed. This unit consists of 3 x 40kA Class 2 surge arresters from Phase to Neutral as well as 1 x 12,5kA Class1 arrester Neutral to Earth.

The main advantage of this combination is that it halves the clamping voltage Phase to Neutral when compared to the standard method of installing surge arresters from each Phase and Neutral to Earth and it can be used on all types of wiring applications, TNS, TN-C-S and TT earthing systems.

DEHNrail FML 230V

When using Class 3 surge arresters there must always be Class 2 surge arresters installed upstream to ensure that the units will not be overstressed.

These units are typically 5kA (8/20) devices and are used to dissipate any surges that may be induced between the electrical distribution board and the equipment.

Class 3 surge arresters without internal disconnecting mechanisms may only be used in circuits that are supervised by earth leakage devices.