What causes overvoltage surges?

Transient overvoltage

As the diagram shows, the largest buildings and on power or data lines and carry a large amount of energy.
voltage peaks on the low-voltage can also reach several times the Failures often occur later, since the
consumer network are caused by nominal operating voltage. Switch- ageing of the components caused
lightning discharges. The high en- ing surges do not cause such high by the smaller transients causes
ergy content of lightning surges in voltage peaks as lightning dis- gradual damage to the electronics.
the case of a direct lightning strike charges, but they do occur far more
on the external lightning protection frequently and can still result in
installation or on a low-voltage over- immediate failure of the installations.
head line usually causes complete Switching surges reach two or three
failure of the connected loads and times the operating voltages, whilst
damage to the insulation. Induced lightning surges can sometimes
voltage peaks on installations in reach twenty times the rated voltage

8
Many factors are responsible for
overvoltage surges in low-volt- Nearby lightning strike Distant lightning strike
age systems, measurement and Even if a building is not itself struck Even lightning strikes at distances of
control systems and computer by lightning, lightning strikes nearby several hundred metres can cause
networks. The following four ca- may cause voltage peaks in the considerable damage on low-volt-
tegories pose the greatest dan- building installation. The surges age and data lines as a result of di-
ger. reach the wiring of electrical installa- rect, inductive or capacitive coupling
tions and equipment directly or by on to earthing installations of build-
inductive or capacitive coupling. ings. Even the electromagnetic field
Direct lightning strike Partial lightning currents may be caused by lightning discharges in-
If lightning directly strikes a building coupled via the earth into the earth- side clouds or parts of clouds can
with external lightning protection or if ing installation and cause significant couple voltage peaks into lines.
it strikes structures on the roof that damage (direct coupling), or voltage
are earthed in a manner capable of peaks may reach the building instal-
carrying lightning current (roof lation by induction from the magnet-
antenna, satellite installation, etc.), ic field emitted by the lightning chan- Switching surges
the result at the earth impedance is nel. Long wiring loops within build- Switching surges arise from on and
a voltage rise and coupling of the ings in particular may act as anten- off-switching operations, from the
high partial-lightning currents via the nae and favour inductive coupling. switching of inductive and capacitive
protective earth conductor into the Capacitive coupling is caused by an loads and from the breaking of
building installation and the con- electrical field with high potential dif- short-circuit currents. In particular
nected appliances. ference between two points, for the disconnection of production
example between a lightning chan- plant, lighting systems or transform-
nel and electric conductors. ers may lead to damage in electrical
Lightning may also directly (B) strike equipment nearby.
the power supply lines (low-voltage
overhead lines) or data lines, caus-
ing high partial-lightning currents to
be coupled into the building.

K/
Disturbance variables in low voltage networks
Overvoltage factor
Û r

v
30

Lightning surges
26 6000

(IV)

22

Switching surges
18 4000

(III)
14 Temporary voltage rises
2500
10 Harmonics - (II)
slow and rapid voltage fluctuations
1500
6

Voltage dips - (I)

2
Brief outages

9
 Reducing the danger by lightning protection zones
LPZ 0A

LPZ 0B

LPZ 1

LPZ 2

LPZ 3

Reduce the overvoltage by A concept with many advantages LPZ 0B

stages to a harmless level Significant advantage of the concept: Region protected by external light-

Minimisation of voltages coupled-
The lightning protection zone con- ning protection installation. No
cept described in international stan- in to other conductor systems by shielding against LEMP.
dard IEC 61312-1 has proved to be diverting the energy-rich, harmful
lightning currents directly at the LPZ 1
rational and effective. The basis of
point where the lines enter the
this concept is the principle of re- Region inside the building. Low
building.
ducing overvoltages by stages to a
Avoidance of disturbance due to partial lightning energies possible.
harmless level, before they reach the magnetic fields.
terminal device and cause damage.
An individual protection concept LPZ 2
To achieve this, the entire power for new buildings, extensions and Region inside the building.
network of a building is divided into conversions, which can be Low overvoltage surges possible.
planned.
lightning protection zones (LPZs). A
surge arrester is installed at the tran- LPZ 3
Clearly-defined protection zones Region inside the building (could
sition from one zone to another, with The lightning protection zones (LPZs)
the arresters graded according to also be the metal casing of an ap-
are defined as follows, from the out- pliance).
the necessary requirement class. side, working inwards: No disturbance pulses due to
LEMP present and no overvoltage
LPZ 0A
surges.
Unprotected region outside the
building. Direct lightning effect, no
The fundamental prerequisite for a
shielding against electromagnetic
lightning protection zone concept is
disturbance pulses, LEMP (light-
a correctly installed equipotential
ning electromagnetic pulse).
bonding system, supplemented with
arresters from LPZ 0 to LPZ 1, thus
establishing the potential equalisa-
tion necessary for lightning protection.

10
Perfect selective surge protection

OBO surge protection devices are absorption capacity together with up to 1.000 V and rated frequencies
divided into three classes B, C and the lowest possible protection level. between 50 and 60 Hz.
D, corresponding to different re- The subdivision corresponds to the The classification of the devices is
quirements in terms of installation stipulations of DIN VDE 0675 Part 6 shown in the table on this page. The
site, protection level and impulse (Draft 11.89) A1 and A2. table also shows clearly which OBO
current carrying capacity. The pur- This standard sets out design guide- surge protection devices should be
pose of this classification is to pro- lines, requirements and tests for installed at which position.
vide selective surge protection, surge arresters used in alternating
which guarantees a high energy current networks with rated voltages

Requirement class Function Max. protection OBO

to DIN VDE 0675, expressed by the surge surge protection
Part 6 (Draft 11.89) category to DIN VDE devices
A1, A2 0110-1

B Surge protection device for lightning protection III (4 kV) MC 50-B VDE

Broad-based
protection
potential equalisation to IEC 61024-1 for direct MC 125-B NPE
or nearby lightning strikes V 25-B+C
LPZ 0 -->1

C Protection device for surge protection to DIN II (2.5 kV) V 20-C

VDE 0100-443 for overvoltages due to distant V 25-B+C
protection
Medium

lightning strikes or switching operations carried

on the supply network
LPZ 1 -->2

D Protection device for the surge protection of I (1.5 kV) EP 220-D

protection
Precision

movable consumer appliances at socket outlets CNS 3-D

LPZ 2 -->3 VF-230-AC
SNS-D
UNS-D
KNS-D

Isolation coordination and protection level in 230/400 V mains systems

KV

Surge protection Surge protection category III, Surge protection category II, Surge protection category I,
5 category IV, e.g. building e.g. main distribution board e.g. distribution board, e.g. ultimate load
entry, domestic sub-distribution board
connection box
4

Requirement Requirement Requirement

class B class C class D
Type MC 50-B VDE Type V 20-C Type CNS-D

Required protection level (surge protection category to DIN VDE 0110, Part 1 (4/97); IEC 60364-4-44)
Protection level of OBO surge arresters
11
 Industrial plants:
The road to perfect surge protection

Object to be protected

Industrial plants
Public buildings

Commercial buildings to IEC, EN,


VDE standards
Hospitals

Building with external Building with overhead Building with earthed roof-mounted
lightning protection installation line connection structures (antennae, etc.)

Is the object one of the types of building shown?

YES NO

Lightning arresters, requirement class B

3 x MC 50-B VDE (500 A*) 3 x MC 50-B VDE (500 A*) 3 x MC 50-B VDE (500 A*)
TN-C system

1 x MC 125-B/NPE 1 x MC 125-B/NPE
TN-S system

TT system

page 20 page 20+22 page 20+22

Optional: decoupling inductance LC 63 (63 A*)

Only needed if the distance between the main and

sub-distribution boards is less than 5 metres
(line length) (e.g. in a shared distribution board)
page 28

and surge arresters, requirement class C Only surge

arresters of
requirement
TN-C-S system

V 20-C/3+NPE (125 A*) V 20-C/3+NPE (125 A*) V20-C/3+NPE (125 A*) class C
TN-S system

TT system

page 34 page 34 page 34

and devices and precision protection of requirement class D

VF 230-AC (16 A*) EP 220-D (16 A*) CNS-D (16 A*) KNS-D (16 A*)

page 68 page 54 page 58 page 64

* If the up.stream fuse is rated higher than the stated figure, protect the arrester selectively with the stated figure.

14
 KURVA PETIR
Pulsa Simulasi Petir

Menurut IEC 1024 : 100 kA (8/20)

I (kA)
Amplitudo : 100 kA
100 kA
Durasi : 100 % ÷ 8 µs (t1)
50 % ÷ 20 µs (t2)

50 kA

t (sec)
t1 : 8 µs

t2 : 20 µs

OBO Generator : 200 kA (10/350)