Power Protection: Here’s What They Really Do

What does power protection do?

Electrical circuits or power protection devices perform consistency and protection as their two basic functions. Overcurrent protection is used in this, and protection is provided via a detachable power supply. To emphasize, many protection tools serve as a shield and guard against several electrical injuries. These gadgets typically eliminate the risk of electrocution and fire.

Devices for protection are helpful in keeping circuits safe. Typically, this defense is against high voltage or current. To be specific, circuit safeguards are the electrical component that shields electronics from both short currents and wasteful current flow.

For computers, per se, it provides backup power that lasts longer than most power outages and protects open files during longer blackouts or brownouts. The result is protection that exceeds damage to your computers: you’re also protected against loss of files, which might be irreplaceable.

What is power protection device?

A power protection device refers to the components of a circuit that protects the equipment from power surges, sudden spikes, or power failures and losses.

Electrical circuit protection devices perform consistently, and protection is their main function. Many protection tools serve as a protection and guard against notable electrical injuries. These gadgets typically eliminate the risk of electrocution and risk of fire.

Protection devices are helpful in keeping circuits safe. Typically, this defense is against high voltage or current. To be specific, circuit protections are the electrical component that safeguards electronics from both short currents and wasteful current flow.

What needs power protection?

There would be no specific equipment that I can mention that would not need power protection as all electrical devices would benefit so much with power protection in the system. If there is a need to state a restriction, that will be with regard to choosing the right device to use in a power system. There are quite a few types of power protection devices that you can incorporate into your electrical system, and they are as follows:

• Fuse

Through a metal strip that is designed to liquefy the current when the flow is high, it protects the current against overcurrent.

• Circuit Breaker

The circuit breaker’s main purpose is to stop the flow of current when a problem arises.

• PolySwitch

To safeguard electronic circuits against overcurrent errors, passive electronic components and resettables are utilized.

• RCCB

The residual current circuit breaker or shortened as RCCB, is a safety device that detects problems with your power supply and quickly shuts them off to prevent electric shocks.

• Metal Oxide Varistor

A voltage-dependent resistor, often known as a varistor or VDR, is an electrical component whose resistance varies depending on the operating voltage.

• Inrush Current Limiter

This kind of electrical component prevents frequent device damage, the tripping of circuit breakers, and the blowing of fuses by stopping the passage of inrush current.

• Gas Discharge Tube

A set of electrodes submerged in gas inside a temperature-resistant cover makes up a gas discharge tube or gas-filled tube.

• Lighting Arrester

This unique safety device is very useful for controlling current flow and stopping unwanted flow in the circuit.

Why Is Power Protection So Important?

Power-protection systems do just as the name denoted: They protect your devices and equipment from the effects of sudden power surges and power failures. In particular, power surges and spikes can damage computer equipment, and a loss of power can result in lost data. In businesses and in households, it is vital to equip with reliable power system protection. Employing a power protection system helps you mitigate the following concerns:

1. Equipment damage

The fact that power is rarely abruptly switched off is something that some people find difficult to comprehend. The majority of the time, a sudden blackout is accompanied by a brief but intense electricity surge that can interfere with or harm electronic systems. Another common aspect of the power-up process is an unexpected spike. Power protection includes safeguarding your equipment as well as ensuring power continuity.

2. Data loss

You might not realize it, but a significant data loss can actually have the highest cost.

If a power surge damages your servers, you may have a power outage. Recent studies have shown that a significant loss of data might cost up to 10% of a company’s annual revenue. This has expenditures that are much higher than purchasing new equipment or

Personnel costs.

3. Downtime

The aftermath of an afflicted circuit that is unprotected will lead to downtime and inefficiency in a business or a household. That could result in missed deadlines, lost money, or worse scenarios. Moreover, you still owe money to everyone who is standing around in the dark in your firm.

4. Risk of fire

Aside from data loss, suffering the repercussions, or damage of equipment, they are all incomparable if compared to the risk of having a fire incident that could have been avoided with the aid of a power protection system.

What are the types of power protective devices?

The following types or versions of power-protection devices are explained in the sections that follow:

• Surge suppressors

Any surge protector that is commercially available, that is, a device installed between the system and the power line, is the most basic type of power protection. The high-voltage transients generated by surrounding lightning strikes and electrical equipment can be absorbed by these devices.

• Phone-line surge protectors

It is imperative to secure your systems from any linked phone lines in addition to the power cables. Any surges or spikes that pass over the phone line can harm your system if you are utilizing a modem or fax board that is plugged into the phone system.

• Line conditioners

Other issues with incoming electricity can happen in addition to high voltage and current conditions. A brownout could occur if the voltage drops below the amount required to keep the system running. Other types of electrical noise, such as radio-frequency interference or electrical noise produced by motors or other inductive loads, may pass through the power line in addition to simple voltage surges or spikes.

• Standby power supplies (SPS)

An SPS is a device comparable to a UPS (standby power supply). Like a UPS, an SPS has a battery within. However in an SPS, the battery only powers the computer when the AC power fails. Unlike the UPS, it does not offer steady power.

• Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)

In case your primary power source fails or the voltage dips to an unacceptable level, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), also referred to as a battery backup, supplies backup power. The safe shutdown of a computer and any attached equipment is made possible by a UPS.

What are the basic components of power system protection?

There are three (3) principal components of a protection system:

• Transducer

The transducer functions as a sensor, converting high short-circuit current and voltage values to lower ones and detecting abnormal system circumstances. The current transformer or CT and the potential transformer are the two primary sensors employed or PT.

• Protective relay.

The transducers’ signals, which might be in the form of current, voltage, or a combination of current and voltage, are processed by a protective relay. These signals are caused by faulty conditions, like surges, short circuits, damaged equipment or cables, or lightning strikes.

• Circuit breaker.

A circuit breaker is a straughtforward mechanical device used to energize and interrupt an electric circuit. It should be able to open and close quickly, maybe in the order of a few milliseconds.

Facts about Power Protection

Understanding the purpose of power protection devices that you can incorporate into your power system will be for your own benefit. These devices are critically useful in conserving and protecting your assets and investments.

1. Power system protection aims to separate a malfunctioning portion of the electrical power system from the remaining live system so that the remaining portion can continue to operate as intended without suffering serious harm from fault current.
2. Power protection is the area of electric power engineering that deals with the principles governing the design and operation of devices (also known as “relays” or “protective relays”) that detect abnormal conditions in the power system and immediately take corrective action to restore the system to normal operation.
3. The reliability and dependability of your power system protection rely on the following factors:

• Quality of the components utilized
• Design and principle of the system
• Mechanical and electrical stress to which the protected part of the system is subjected to.
• Maintenance of your power system protection

Generalization

Incorporating reliable power system protection in your business establishment and or household is an accessible feature that you should acquire. The integration of this system is wiser and cheaper in cost compared to maintenance or the recuperations you have to take if ever afflicted by an untoward incident.

To acquire the best deals for your power system protection, visit www.se.com/th/en of Schneider Electric, a reputable provider of supplies for sustainable and efficient energy, optimizing the life cycle of your assets.