+44 (0) 1730 895785
RF surge and current suppressors
Systems are often exposed to electrical weather conditions. Lightning strikes, surges or overcurrent’s can be induced into the main line.
Unwanted spikes not always generated by extraordinary elements. They can also be caused by everyday factors such as the operation of electric motors or low-frequency electrical systems.
These disruptions to your equipment can cause unwanted transients to penetrate circuits and cause damage.
Overvoltage
Worst case scenario it can completely ruin an electronic system. Not only causing serious damage to its structure, but also interruption of service, damage to software or loss of data. A flash of voltage or current in an unprotected system can cause it to momentarily cease to function.
“To minimise the impact of these unwanted signals, we have a family of Suppressors that protect equipment from such interference”
Constructed by means of a gas element. Consisting of a diversion to ground. Device only activated when unwanted current or voltages occur.
Gas discharge technology
The gas discharge tube consists of two electrodes enclosed in a completely sealed ceramic tube. Mixture of noble gases suitable for effective operation introduced.
When unwanted signal appears, gases ionise, becoming sensitively conductive, diverting unwanted signals to ground. The upward slope of the transient is usually very high (a few µs) and the downward slope is slow, of around hundreds of µs. Therefore, the ionisation of the gas must be fast in order to achieve a fast bypass that does not affect the circuit beyond the protective element.
The useful life of the discharge tube allows for a multitude of diversion manoeuvres. Rendered inoperative only if the breakdown voltage or breakdown current is exceeded e.g. in the event of a lightning strike directly on the device.
After a simple maintenance procedure, the device is operational again. Once the over signal has disappeared, the gas quickly returns to its original state.
Diversion to ground disappears with a resistance of tens of GΩ, without affecting the normal operation of the installation in anyway. Signal transferred unaltered to its destination.
These passive elements do not require power supply and can be installed in vehicles.
In normal operation they can maintain the characteristic impedance, normally 50 Ω. Therefore they can be used at high frequencies without a significant increase in the VSWR or insertion loss.
Coaxial solutions for 7/16, N, TNC, BNC, UHF and F series among others. Male or female connectors.
Earth connection made by means of an M8 threaded connection to the chassis.