The document provides an overview of the UL 1449 Third Edition standard for surge protection devices (SPDs). It discusses the changes from the previous standard, including combining TVSS and surge arrestors into one standard. The new standard introduces four types of SPDs and new testing methods that use more energy. It also explains the features and applications of various SPD product lines from Advanced Protection Technologies.
4. UL 1449 THIRD Edition Safe Surge Protection Specification Interpretation Ordering Procedures Product Applications Next Generation of SPD Products and Features Our Services and Support Today you will leave here knowing….
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8. UL 1449-3 & 2008 NEC Art 285 SPD Types: Types 1, 2, 3 & 4 Based on Location within electrical distribution system Trans Meter Svc. Disc. Panel Type 1 10m (30feet) Type 2 Type 3 OCP built in to SPD, more rigorous testing
11. UL 1449 THIRD Edition I nominal Testing – In - (Nominal Discharge Current) - New Concept to USA – Originated from IEC 61643 - Duty Cycle Testing - 15 8x20 s surges through every mode of three samples used for VPR testing Type 1 – 20kA or 10kA Type 2 – 20kA, 10kA, 5kA or 3kA Type 3 – 3kA Type 4 – Based on intended usage as Types 1, 2 or 3 UL 96A Master Label requires 20kA In from Type 1 or Type 2 SPD
14. APT offers a full breadth of Type 1 and Type 2 SPD’s. Our Type 1 SPD’s use Large Block 50kA MOV’s that have Thermal Protection and are very reliable and robust. Each Series offers protection which is ideal for remote locations and extreme duty applications where downtime is unacceptable, to models ideal for downstream applications. Our units offer protection from 50kA per phase up to 1000kA per phase. Advanced Protection Technologies
Hi, my name is Robert Stanley. I would like to thank you in advance for taking the time to watch our Advanced Protection Technologies Surge Suppression 3rd Edition presentation. When most people think of surge protection, the first thing that comes to mind is a plug strip that protects a computer or TV from damaging electrical spikes or surges. These protectors have their place, but they are not the most efficient way to protect today's electrical systems.
In today's electronic world, everything incorporates electronics, and the most efficient way to protect your customers’ business or home against surges is through the use of hardwired surge protective devices installed throughout the electrical system. This is accomplished through integration of safety innovations like coordinated thermal cutouts, surge rated fuses and other soft innovations combined to create the safest hard wired surge protective devices available.
Places where lightning activity is minimal are now experiencing more and more electronic failures due to surges generated by the day to day operations of equipment like washers and dryers, copiers, chillers, and so on. Designers, who a few years ago, never gave thought to the need of incorporating surge protection within their designs are now re-thinking this practice.
Our next generation UL 1449 3rd Edition listed Surge Suppressors offer increased robustness and redundancy. We have been around for 25 years and believe safe surge protection emerges from experience. You will leave here today knowing... Safe Surge Protection Product Applications Specification Interpretation Next Generation of SPD Products and Features Ordering Procedures Our Services and Support
One of the major changes to UL 1449 3rd Edition is that the regulatory oversight of surge arrestors was integrated within UL 1449. This brought a name change to Surge Protective Devices. Everything from Service Entrance TVSS to plug strips are now called Surge Protective Devices or SPDs. Over time, you will no longer see the word “TVSS” or “Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor”, “surge or lightning arrestor”. Other changes are the designation of type 1, 2, 3 and 4 of an SPD. The change from Suppressed Voltage Ratings or SVR’s to Voltage Protection Ratings called VPR’s. And lastly, the addition of the terminology called “I Nominal”. All of these will have an affect on current specifications and making them obsolete. To distinguish between designs and allowable installation locations, UL developed these “Type” classifications. I will go over what these classifications mean later in this presentation.
By reclassifying arrestors and TVSS as SPDs, it has actually made the selection of the appropriate SPD a lot easier for you. By reviewing the following short definitions, you can see the obvious choices for your designs. Type 1 SPDs are what was formally called Secondary Surge Arrestors. Type 1 SPDs are permanently connected hard wired suppressors installed between the secondary of the service transformer or on the line of the service entrance disconnect or the load side throughout a facilities distribution system. In addition, to be classified as a Type 1 SPD, all safety controls (fusing/thermal protection) must be included within the SPD. SPD fault current protection cannot be achieved via the use of external disconnects fuses or breakers. Lastly, Type 1 SPDs must pass the new robustness I-nominal 20kA or 10kA surge current test. They will probably be favored the most because they include over current protection. All of our new products are Type 1!
Type 2 SPDs are what was formally known as hard-wired TVSS. Type 2 SPDs are defined as permanently connected SPDs intended for installation on the load side of the service entrance disconnect and includes SPDs located at the branch panel. Also, these types can be tested with an external series overcurrent protective device. New robustness surge current (In, I nominal) testing includes less rigorous levels than those desiring Type 1 designations. These levels include - 3 kA, 5 kA, 10 kA or 20 kA. Type 3 SPDs are corded or plugged in protection. And Type 4 SPDs are Component SPDs, including discrete components as well as component assemblies.
Here it illustrates where the different SPD types can be applied. Type 1 SPDs, which is the classification of our new products, offer more flexibility in their applications as they can be installed line and load side. It removes the guess work on which units to use and where. Bottom line is that for most of your applications, most APT Units are Type 1 SPDs having I nominal of 20kA, which is the highest rating that can be achieved. SPDs with these ratings provide the highest degree of safety and robustness with the most installation flexibility.
Another change with 3rd Edition listed surge protectors are clamping voltage, or let through voltage ratings. The main function of a surge protector is to clip off surge voltages to harmless levels. One measure of how well an SPD accomplishes this function is the UL 1449 clamping voltage test. Under the previous UL edition, this well defined test produced Suppressed Voltage Ratings, or SVR’s. A good 120V SPD would have UL SVR’s of 330V or 400V. For UL 1449 3rd Edition, UL changed the testing parameters. Now, SPDs are hit with 6 time’s more surge current than used in previous tests. This new test is called Voltage Protection Rating, or VPR. The result is that clamping voltages are now higher than they were in previous testing procedures; however the functionality of the surge protector is still the same.
You can see this in the table, a 277/480 suppressor clamps higher than a 120/208. The bottom line is this, let through voltages increased industry wide. An SPD that used to have a 330V or 400V rating will now have a 700V or even higher rating. Specifications will catch up with the changes, but keep in mind that the lower the rating, the better the protection. From what we are seeing, APT SPD’s have the lowest clamp voltage ratings, which are now called Voltage Protection Ratings, or VPR’s.
UL 3rd Edition is introducing a new test, called the I-nominal test. This is a new concept to the US that originated from IEC 61643. It is the Peak value of surge current through the SPD having a current wave shape of 8 by 20 where the SPD remains functional after 15 surges. I-nominal will be posted on the device’s UL label. The manufacturer selects which rating they would like based on what type designation they want. Type 1’s can have the option of 10 or 20kA. Type 2’s can be 20, 10, 5, or 3kA and Type 3’s are 3kA. In order to get UL 96A Master Label compliance, an I-nominal of 20kA will be required.
The next two slides cover an example of a UL 1449 3rd Edition Specification. A few things to look for in this portion of the spec are located in lines C, D and E. Make sure that the SPD’s you are using for a project are Type 1 SPD’s. Anything that does not meet or exceed these requirements may get rejected by the engineer come submittal time.
In the second portion of this specification, the main thing to watch for is the new 3rd Edition clamping voltages also known as VPR’s, which is seen here on line H. SPD’s tested through UL 1449 will have levels similar or higher than these. Be concerned when you do not see specs containing similar criteria to what I have shown you here. You may be looking at an obsolete spec that needs to be updated by the engineer.
Now let’s talk about our APT product line. We offer a full breadth of Type 1 and Type 2 SPDs from 50kA up to 1000kA per phase. These units offer robust, thermal protected suppression modules which gives your customer more flexibility when faced with protecting critical loads. We have a full offering of SPD products for flexibility when protecting large switchgear or downstream panelboards.
Here are our many different units that we currently offer. In our next few slides we are going to look at them individually. Please note that we now offer a 10 warranty on all of our 3rd Edition units.
This is our XBS Series. It is our largest SPD that ranges from 600kA per phase all the way up to 1000kA per phase. Disconnect Switch, Audible Alarm and Dry Contacts are standard on this product and there is an option for a surge counter. The XBS has 2 redundant modules that work in parallel. We would recommend this type of unit for those “critical” applications or when the job involves an engineer that specifies high kA protection devices.
This next series is one that will cover a great majority of the applications in the marketplace. The XAS is a modular design that offers protection from 100kA per phase all the way up to 500kA. Audible Alarm and Dry Contacts are standard on this product and you can add a Disconnect Switch and/or Surge Counter as an option. Similar to the XB Series, this one too comes in a 7 or a 10 Mode SPD. As a 7 mode unit we call this one our XAS Series and as a True 10 Mode which is called it our XAL. The XAL offers 300 and 450kA per phase protection and it has Line to Line MOV protection.
Our XGA unit, seen here, is a real workhorse. You may remember this product from UL 1449 2nd Edition. It is so reliable and robust that we brought it through UL 1449 3rd Edition as a Type 2 Suppressor. It offers 160 and 240kA per phase and has one field replaceable module per phase. It utilizes our TranSafe technology which means that if one module was to fail, the other two pick up the slack. Everything is still protected while we ship another replacement module to the site. We also make this as an SAD hybrid for those specific engineers that request this type of technology..
Another one of our previous Edition units that came through as a Type 2 Suppressor is our HP Series. It offers one field replaceable module per phase with surge current ratings of 120 and 160kA per phase. It also comes standard with Alarm and Silences Switch.
The last of our Type 2 Suppressors is our HPS Series. Much like the HP Series with one field replaceable module per phase it has surge current ratings of 80, 120 and 160kA per phase. The one major difference is that there is not an option for an Alarm and Silence Switch with this series. It is a budget modular SPD.
Getting back to our Type 1 Suppressors, here is our XDS Series. It offers 3 kA ratings, 100, 150 and 200 and has an optional Audible Alarm and Dry Contacts. It can also be flush mount.
While all of our units can be put on any service entrance, our XCS Series is mostly used for downstream applications. It is 100kA per phase and it covers all modes. It too can come in flushmount.
This device, seen here, is the best replacement to the soon to be obsolete surge arrestors. We call this one our SPDee product. This little guy will be able to go where no surge suppressor has gone before.
We have also recently launched a complete line of DIN Rail SPDs for your industrial power applications. Our UL 1449 3rd Edition Recognized AC units range from a 120V single-phase up to a 347/600V 3-phase Wye. These SPDs are engineered with internal thermal disconnects and do NOT require external fuses. This equates to a savings on installation time, space needed and money spent. The DC units come in a range of 5V up to 60V and are available in standard and high frequency. Please take note that our DC units can protect up to 4-wires in a single enclosure, whereas many competitors only protect 2 wires. Now APT can be you one stop for all your SPD needs!
There are times when a spec may not be crystal clear or is lacking vital information. Choosing the right APT SPD is not too difficult, but to remove the complexity of what size and type SPD you need to quote your client, we have provided you qualifying questions you should seek responses too. Recommending and quoting the right SPD and can not only save you and your client money, but it can also save you a ton of headaches down the road. First and foremost, what is the correct system voltage? Beyond the scope of the common voltages, there can be some confusion when it involves the unique or less common types. It can wreak havoc on an SPD if it is incorrectly chosen with the wrong system voltage. What is being protected in the system? Is it a critical load? What is the amperage of the panel? A small 200 amp, non-critical panel does not require a 600kA SPD. Its over-kill and a waste of money. Let’s find something more suitable for this load.
The next one is very important. Is there a breaker available to feed the SPD? Adding Disconnect Switches can dictate which products are the right choices for the project. As you saw earlier in the product slides, not every SPD has Disconnect Switch capabilities. And lastly, what options does you client want? Do they want a Surge Counter? Audible Alarm? Stainless Steel Enclosure? If you keep some of these things in mind when dealing with SPD’s then you will be able to have confidence in what quoted to your client. But as always, we are here for you. So always give us a shout when you need help or assistance in any shape or form.
When ordering SPDs, you can now refer to the data sheets to build the part number. This is an example of the XAS Series. As you see, this chart will help you select the proper voltage and options for the SPD. But remember, we are always available to help you. Just give us a call or send an e-mail our way!
You can visit the UL website to verify any of the current manufacturers. At the bottom of their home page click on “Certifications”. In the UL category code you can enter VZCA and it’ll give you a list of the manufacturers that are 3rd Edition UL Listed.
Our last slide is to show some of our services that we provide. They include our extensive database which gives us vital information at our fingertips. This helps us to give you accurate information concerning the job, the players and what strategies you may want to take on a certain project. We are also staffed with specially trained SPD experts that can give you immediate assistance as well as provide you with timely and accurate submittals! Please check out our website at aptspd.com for more information. 3rd Edition SPD specs and product cut sheets can be found there as well. But always feel free to call us.
Thanks again for your time. Please feel free to call us with any Surge Protection questions. We can be reached at 800-237-4567. Our Engineers and Sales Staff are here to assist you!