Power supply surge protection for industrial control panels is not just a recommended practice but an essential legal requirement, a mandatory measure to protect electrical systems. Typical control panels are usually equipped with backup fuses larger than 315A, and the distribution board's surge protector works alongside the backup fuses. These backup fuses have high demands on cable length and protection levels, making the installation of surge protectors particularly important.
Control panels can be seen as central power hubs connecting various electrical devices, making them susceptible to events such as lightning strikes and surges that can lead to equipment damage, surge interruptions, and downtime losses. Here are the main benefits of power supply surge protection for industrial control panels:
Surge protection effectively prevents overvoltage from entering the electrical infrastructure through the control panel, extending the lifespan of the equipment and avoiding costly damage and interruptions.
Surge protection helps prevent faults caused by power surges, ensuring continuous operation of industrial and commercial facilities. This is especially crucial for critical production and operational environments.
Surge protection reduces the risk of fires and personal injuries that surges might cause, ensuring workplace safety is a top priority.
In the long term, surge protection significantly reduces costs by lowering equipment replacement costs, reducing downtime losses, and cutting maintenance expenses.
Given these significant advantages, it is crucial to install surge protection devices in the control panel's distribution board. Surge protectors in the main distribution box can discharge most of the overcurrent, but relying solely on the main distribution box's protection may not fully protect the entire system, as residual energy could still reach sensitive electronic equipment. Therefore, terminal surge protectors must always be installed close to the equipment.
Installing a Type 1 SPD at the entry point of the electrical system as the first line of defense against voltage spikes and surges entering the electrical system is crucial. This primary protection measure effectively prevents surges from further spreading into the building's wiring system and eventually reaching sensitive electronic equipment.
The closer the distance between the surge protector and the main power source, the more effective the protection. Installing surge protectors at the entry point can significantly reduce the risk of voltage spikes affecting sensitive equipment.
However, it is impossible to discharge 100% of overvoltage at once, requiring the installation of Type 2 SPD close to the equipment for precise protection of sensitive equipment.

The faster the response of the surge protector to transient events, the better it can transfer excess energy away from the equipment. Installing surge protectors close to the equipment can shorten the distance a surge must travel before encountering the protection device.
Tailor-made Type 2 SPDs for specific circuits or devices are usually installed near the equipment for more precise protection of each circuit or device. These protective devices must be installed in series with the main surge protector to ensure effective protection at all levels during a surge event.
If a surge protector exceeds its capacity limit, it may be damaged due to a short circuit. Additional protective devices must be installed in series upstream of Type 2 SPD.
A short circuit occurs when a low-resistance connection is accidentally established between two conductors in the electrical system.Type 2 SPD must have a short-circuit current rating (ISCCR) at least equal to the short-circuit current at the connection point.
When the main distribution box uses a TN-C system, a maximum distance of 3m is required, and another 0+0.5 configuration lightning protector is needed.
What Are the Classification Protection of Lightning Protection System?January 10, 20221. Type 1 lightning protectionThe aim is to prevent voltage surge from being directly conducted from LPZ0 to LPZ1 and limit the voltage surge varying from tens of thousands of volts to hundreds of tho...view
Introduction to Signal Surge Protector and Its Lightning Protection FunctionMarch 4, 2022A signal surge protector is a type of surge protection devices that is linked in series on a signal line to reduce transient over-voltages and deflect surge currents away from the signal line. Signal ...view
Price and Brand of Lightning ArresterJanuary 10, 2022A surge protector, also called as surge diverter, surge suppressor, or surge protection device (SPD), is an appliance designed to protect electrical devices from induced lightning.1. How about the sur...view
Is Surge Backup Protector the Same As Surge Protector?March 13, 20231.The Role of Surge Backup ProtectorBefore the advent of surge backup protectors, the backup protection devices of SPD surge protectors typically used fuses or circuit breakers to separate the short-c...view
Beyond the Basics: Advanced Features in Surge Protectors for Tech EnthusiastsJanuary 5, 2024Unleashing the Power of ProtectionFor tech enthusiasts who revel in the intricacies of their electronic ecosystems, surge protection extends beyond mere safety—it becomes an art, a science, and an in...view
How is a Surge Protector Grounded?February 1, 2023As we all know, the impact and damage of thunderstorms and lightning on us is very huge, so it is also very important to take corresponding lightning protection measures for various power supply elect...view