Selenium-Enhanced Devices Protect from Smart-Grid-Related Switching Surges

Thomas & Betts Power Solutions’ line of Current Technology® Select® (SL3™) surge protection devices (SPDs) offers selenium-enhanced protection from utility-induced switching surges that have become more commonplace with the burgeoning smart grid. In addition to protection, Current Technology SL3 SPDs also feature an advanced power quality monitoring system with remote accessibility via ModBus and Ethernet, which helps the user identify and quantify critical power quality issues at a fraction of the cost of standalone power quality monitoring systems.

Current Technology SL3 SPDs also provide true single- and repetitive-surge test data that fully comply with engineering specifications, in contrast to calculated values for single- and repetitive-surge data that competitor SPDs provide. Additional features include: Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Listed – Type 1 SPDs to UL1449 3rd Edition; Smaller and lighter footprint – Occupies less space and reduces shipping costs; Exclusive disconnect barrier – Units with integral disconnect come standard with a safety barrier that blocks access to the line side of the disconnect; And improved standard base monitoring – Offers tri-colored LEDs that indicate remaining protection, audible alarm, alarm silence and dry relay contacts.

“The next generation of Current Technology SPDs responds to the demands posed by the emergence of smart grid technology,” said Chad Smith, director, product management at Thomas & Betts. “Utility-induced switching surges will increase substantially with the smart grid system, making it critically important to not only protect facilities, but also monitor and understand the quality of power provided.”

Current Technology SPDs also fulfill the requirements imposed by the recently implemented National Electrical Code® (NEC®) Article 708, Critical Operational Power System (COPS), which requires that SPDs be installed at each voltage level inside of a facility, as well as Underwriters Laboratories’ UL96A requirements for lightning protection systems.

“With the upgraded Current Technology SPDs, we can better serve such markets as public infrastructure, wastewater treatment facilities, hospitals, schools, financial institutions and data centers,” Smith said. “They also are designed for easy retrofitting.”