Surge protection

[lurch]

Guys

Looking for some advice on applying some surge protection on a farm. It appears a pump is the only item of kit that gets damaged when there is a spike/surge, so I am looking for a switch fused spur or something similar that has integral surge protection rather than a plug in device therefore removing the temptation to unplug.

Any help is appreciated.

Thx

 

[malcolmsanford]

The chances are you will need a type 1/class 1 device.

I use Furse type and you can google them quite easily.

These can be fitted on a din rail either in the board, but preferable as close to the pump as possible

 

[lurch]

The chances are you will need a type 1/class 1 device.

I use Furse type and you can google them quite easily.

These can be fitted on a din rail either in the board, but preferable as close to the pump as possible

Thanks forget back to me so promptly. Are you aware of a switch fuse spur that has protection built in?

 

[malcolmsanford]

I only know of an RCD FCU to be honest.

Also some ex leads and even some socket adaptors, but not a FCU.

 

[Richard Burns]

It does depend on the nature of the surges and spikes against which you are trying to protect.
If you want protection against very high voltage events then your SPD may need to be uprated, but if you do just need just category I then you could just fit a surge protected plug to the equipment, obviously they could change the plug, but they could also bypass an FCU.

 

[lurch]

I only know of an RCD FCU to be honest.

Also some ex leads and even some socket adaptors, but not a FCU.

Are you saying a RCD provides surge protection ? I am not aware of this. . . .

 

[malcolmsanford]

No..........I was saying that I know you can get a RCD Spur........... but I have never seen a surge protection spur.

 

[lurch]

No..........I was saying that I know you can get a RCD Spur........... but I have never seen a surge protection spur.

Ah! my mistake I misunderstood you . .. thx for your responses

 

[Marvo]

Are you saying a RCD provides surge protection ? I am not aware of this. . . .

If you surge protect an RCD circuit the RCD will trip as soon as the surge protect start operation in the case of a surge so the transient voltage will cause disconnection rather than being diverted to earth by the SPU's.

 

[lurch]

If you surge protect an RCD circuit the RCD will trip as soon as the surge protect start operation in the case of a surge so the transient voltage will cause disconnection rather than being diverted to earth by the SPU's.

kinda make sense really as RCD operates on leakage to earth ! What was known as a ELCB back in the day

 

[shanky887614]

kinda make sense really as RCD operates on leakage to earth ! What was known as a ELCB back in the day

i thoughy voelcb were much more common though

 

[lurch]

i thoughy voelcb were much more common though

still a few around !

 

[Marvo]

kinda make sense really as RCD operates on leakage to earth ! What was known as a ELCB back in the day

Aka RCCD, RCCB, RCBO and probably a few more names as well. Whatever the leakage detection device you'd need to surge protect on the supply side of it, not the load side. Also if it's a TT earthing arrangement with an upfront RCD it would affect the Surge protection design.

Are you sure there's actually a surge problem and it's not the suppliers or some equally clueless person taking a chance by just saying there is so they can worm their way out of a warranty claim or not have to admit that they're actually clueless why the pump failed. I'd put a power quality analyzer on the DB to monitor for a week or so before spending a fortune protecting against a surge problem that isn't actually there.

 

[Robert Turnbull]

The SPD's I usually fit (by design and spec by others) Are connected to each phase /Neutral and earth either from a Breaker in a DB or a Ryfield Board, Thus protecting the whole installation.