Sparks Electrical News January 2018

EARTHING, LIGHTNING AND SURGE PROTECTION

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STYLISH, PRACTICAL CIRCUIT PROTECTION RANGE

PROTECT EQUIPMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY LEVELS DURING SA’S LIGHTNING SEASON

A s homeowners and small offices add more electrical gadgets to their systems, the loads become higher and, when added to the lightning strikes, electrical surges and load shedding experi- enced in South Africa, can represent a fire and safety hazard. Circuit protection is therefore vital, safeguarding consumers against surge, short circuits, electric shocks and overloads. Schneider Electric has created Easy9, a stylish, practical and affordable circuit protection range that offers installers high quality and long-lasting protection, while its user-friendly design, availability and affordability make it attractive to the homeowner. “Thanks to technology, today’s lifestyle is evolving quickly. Customers’ comfort, leisure, safety and home business are completely dependent on electronics. This technology driven lifestyle is at risk owing to the severe threat of lightning. For example, in the event of a strike somewhere close to the supply lines, voltage rises from 230 to several thousands of volts. In a few microseconds, electronic components can be destroyed and all ap- pliances damaged and left out of order,” says James Calmeyer, VP Build- ing Business Unit, at Schneider Electric South Africa. “Just one Easy9 surge arrester however – located in the distribution switchboard, coupled with surge protection at the plug outlet – will pro- tect equipment in the home from overvoltage caused by lightning. If in- stalled correctly and by an accredited person, the surge arrester damps the spike, so that the voltage never reaches a level damageable to the electronics.” The Easy9 range includes switch-disconnectors, surge protection, earth leakage protection, and a full range of C curve miniature circuit breakers. In addition, its curved edges add to the elegance of a home or office.

A leader in switchgear technologies, Schneider Electric has engi- neered Easy9 to be affordable without compromising on safety and reliability. All Easy9 products are manufactured in ISO 9000-certified plants belonging to Schneider Electric and are approved by independ- ent authorities as compliant with local electrical safety standards. It has found its place in homes, industry, hospitals, airports and small offices. “It answers the electrician’s need to have access to robust products that are widely available and will help them to complete their installa- tions swiftly and professionally, with consistent design and connection features. It is a high-end device available at a mid-range price. “We work closely with electricians worldwide to help bring safe elec- tricity to homes and buildings around the globe. With Easy9, electricians can take pride in delivering the enhanced safety and peace of mind their customers deserve,” concludes Calmeyer.

Enquiries: www.schneider-electric.co.za.

EFFECTIVE ENGINEERING OF LIGHTNING SAFETY AND PROTECTION SOLUTIONS

experts in lightning protection and lightning safety, but who also have broad-based experience in engineering management and project man- agement, as well as in forensic and remedial engineering. This provides them with the insights, experience and expertise to appreciate the broader implications and to address the complexities associated with both ‘greenfield’ and ‘brownfield’ applications.

“IT IS WELL UNDERSTOOD that a properly engineered lightning safety and lightning protection system (LPS) can limit damage and loss of life/ injury. Whilst a standards-based technical approach has been found to be effective and to result in enhanced protection against the effects of lightning, a proper engineering approach to lightning protection is often not evident.” So said Ian McKechnie, CEO of project and engineering advisors and solutions provider Engenamic, who added that “whilst the current stand-

T he South African summer season brings with it wide- spread possibilities of lightning strikes. The massive voltage fluctuations caused by lightning can damage sensitive equipment and cause data loss on computers, serv- ers and storage devices. To combat this, the DEHNcord surge arrester from lightning and surge protection expert, DEHN Af- rica, offers reliable protection from surges caused by lightning interference, and is flexible and space-saving. DEHN Africa technical director, Hano Oelofse, explains that Type 2 surge arrestors are surge protective devices designed to discharge the currents generated by indirect lightning strikes, and which cause induced or conducted over-voltages on the power distribution network. They are installed in the main dis- tribution switchboard. The DEHNcord Type 2 surge arrester, available in single-pole, two-pole and three-pole versions, can be fitted in installation systems such as the terminal compartments of end loads, ca- ble ducts or flush-mounted systems. The compact design of DEHNcord allows it to be installed wherever the performance of a standard Type 3 surge protective device for terminal equipment reaches its limits. The lightning protection offered by DEHNcord helps to offset the possibility of lost productivity and costs for the repair or replacement of equipment after an unprotected lightning strike. DEHNcord therefore ensures surge protection where space is restricted. It can also be used at the transition from lightning protection zone (LPZ) 0B to 1 or higher. DEHNcord meets the requirements of EN / IEC 61643-11. It has a short-circuit cur- rent withstand capability Isccr of 25 kArms in case of mains- side overcurrent protection and a total discharge current of 20 kA (8/20 µs). DEHNcord features include the following: • Single-pole, two-pole or three-pole surge protective device with monitoring system and disconnector. • Visual fault indication. • Types with disconnection of the load circuit in the event of a fault and protection of the control phase. • Compact design also for outdoor use. • Can be fitted in junction boxes, flush-mounted systems, cable ducts and flush-type boxes. “Despite the compact design, the device houses a visual me- chanical operating state/fault indication, as well as a discon- nector which disconnects the connected load as soon as it is tripped (optional). DEHNcord can be adapted to existing instal- lation systems. It ensures reliable protection of terminal equip- ment at minimum expense, takes up little space and saves installation time. When space is restricted in the cable duct, DEHNcord is the ideal solution thanks to its flexible terminals,” Oelofse concludes.

Enquiries: 27 (0)12 663 4804

ards provide a comprehensive and useful techni- cal reference guide for engineering professionals trained in the process of engineering analysis and design, it is important to understand that ef- fective lightning safety and protection solutions are not about simply using technical standards as ‘recipe books’. It is about an engineering ap- proach where these standards play an important technical role, but are applied within a structured, systematic and integrated engineering frame- work, taking account of the dynamics and com- plexities of the application”. McKechnie commented that “Many applica- tions, such as those in mining, oil and gas (petro- chemical), airports/aviation and other transpor- tation systems, renewable energy (such as PV and wind plants), as well as large conventional power and industrial plants and outdoor sporting and recreational facilities, all present particular and complex lightning-related challenges. “The complexity of these applications arises from a combination of particular factors. These include, for example, that such sites typically have relatively exposed persons, infrastructure, equip- ment and systems, often over an extended area. They also typically include a diverse and complex range of people, systems, technologies and inter- faces in a dynamic and constantly changing en- vironment, as well as application and site specific factors such as possible presence of hazardous locations and particular site conditions. These are some examples of factors that impact directly on the risks associated with lightning safety and light- ning protection, and which require careful consid- eration in developing engineered solutions’. The Engenamic team members have ex- tensive and international experience in light- ning safety and lightning protection (including through sister company Innopro, now part of the Engenamic family), and their services are offered on a world-wide basis. At Engenamic, the light- ning safety and protection team is led by repu- table and internationally registered engineering professionals who are not only recognised as

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 704 1487

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JANUARY 2018