Power fluctuations can hurt most any business, particularly those reliant on properly functioning electronic equipment: Specifying a TVSS for each installation can help ensure maximized performance

Power fluctuations can hurt most any business, particularly those reliant on properly functioning electronic equipment. Sensitivity to power fluctuations stemming from lightning strikes, surges in utility power, and surges generated within a facility can damage critical equipment and negatively impact the productivity of a facility and play havoc with a facility’s ability to conduct business and usual. TVSSs (transient voltage surge suppressors) limit transient voltages by diverting or limiting surge current and preventing flow of following current. They are designed to tolerate multiple exposures to a surge event. To achieve that, they should offer the appropriate level of protection for the size of the electrical load, which depends upon where in a facility each one is installed and the equipment it is intended to protect. Wherever it is installed, the short circuit current rating (SCCR) should match the SCCR of the branch panel or building service to be protected. Another important decision is: will the TVSS contain a circuit breaker internally or will it connect to a dedicated external circuit breaker in the panel.