Protection against overvoltages caused by lightning strikes PRF1, PRD, PF surge arresters: easier to install, improved effectiveness

A guide to help you choose the right surge arrester

With Merlin Gerin, lightning protection can easily

90% of power outlets supply equipment incorporating electronic devices.

Merlin Gerin
is today one of the leading global brands of power distribution equipment. In the quest for ever greater safety and continuity of service, the ranges are changing to meet all residential, tertiary and industrial protection requirements.

More and more electrical equipment is today sensitive to overvoltages caused by lightning strikes.
In response to these new requirements, Merlin Gerin, the leading power distribution manufacturer, is devoting its efforts to lightning protection.
To make it easier to select surge arresters for electrical installations and to implement and maintain them, 550 specialists design and produce surge arresters in compliance with international standards. Merlin Gerins surge arresters are highly suitable for electrical contractors and meet their users most stringent requirements. From Grenoble to Salt Lake City, from Brussels to Shanghai, quality requirements are being pushed to the limit. Each site has obtained ISO 9001 and/or ISO 14001 certification.

be integrated into the power distribution system

A Merlin Gerin innovation,

Quick PF and Combi PRF1 ready-to-wire surge arresters incorporate their own disconnection circuit breaker: easy to choose and simple to install for greater effectiveness.

For all low voltage switchboards and electrical enclosures,

a range of surge arresters that is simple to install.

The effectiveness of lightning protection is closely related to the implementation of its surge arresters. To ensure the protection of equipment connected to low voltage networks, telecommunications networks, computer networks, Merlin Gerin has designed a complete range of surge arresters that can be perfectly integrated into the enclosures and electrical switchboards of its switchgear assembly and installation systems. Certified coordination between the surge arrester and its disconnection circuit breaker, Protection against the nuisance tripping of si and SiE earth leakage protection devices during a lightning strike, Easy to implement and use, Compatibility with all earthing systems (TT, TNS, TNC, IT), Technical and aesthetic consistency, Compliance with standards, Availability of products and services.

Merlin Gerin, helping professionals to choo

To meet all protection requirements more effectively:

1
n residential buildings

Estimate the value of the equipment to be protected

n domestic equipment: n audio-video equipment,

computers,
n electrical appliances, n burglar alarm.

The value is estimated by considering:

n tertiary buildings n the financial cost of the equipment n the economic impact of equipment downtime

n building equipment: n fire alarm, access control, n automated heating or air-conditioning, n lift. n business equipment: n programmable machine, n server, n sound or light control system. n heavy equipment: n medical infrastructure, n production infrastructure, n heavy computer processing.

n industrial buildings

Determine the type of building

n detached house, n flat, small semi-detached house, n common areas of a building, n professional premises.

Lightning protection can be calculated for an entire building or for part of a building that is electrically independent.

ose the best lightning protection

As proof of the complete effectiveness of lightning protection in meeting each need,

Identify the type of power distribution

Integration into the electrical power distribution: n single switchboard or main switchboard, n subdistribution board, n sensitive equipment more than 30 m from the switchboard.

Merlin Gerin offers a simple and effective selection method.

Depending on the size of the building and the extent of its electrical system, one or more surge arresters must be used in the various switchboards in the installation.

Understand the risk of the impact of lightning on the site

Location of the building: n in an urban, suburban, grouped housing area.

n in plain area.

Lightning is attracted by high points that conduct electricity. They can be:
n natural: tall trees, mountain peaks, damp areas, ferrous soils. n artificial: chimney stacks, aerials, pylons, lightning rods. Indirect effects can be incurred within a fifty metre radius around the point of impact.

n in an area where there is a special risk (pylon, tree, mountainous region, mountain peak, damp area or pond).

n in an exceptionally exposed area (lightning rod within 50 metres of a building).

PRF1, PRD, PF surge arrester selection guide

1
EQUIPMENT TO BE PROTECTED

common equipment
Computers, electrical appliances, audio-video equipment, burglar alarm, etc.
Flat, smal semi-detached house

building equip

auto

air

acce
Professional premises

2
TYPE OF BUILDING

Detached house

Common areas of a building

+
Single switchboard or main switchboard

3
TYPE OF POWER DISTRIBUTION

Subdistribution board

4
RISK OF THE IMPACT OF LIGHTNING

CHOICE
ALTERNATIVE

QUICK PF

PF40

Combi PRF1 + PF40

Combi PRF1 + PF40

QUICK PF

PF40

PF65

Combi PRF1 + PF40

Combi PRF1 + PF40

QUICK PF

PF40

Combi PRF1 + PF40

Combi PRF1 + PF40

PRD20 PF20

PRD40 PF40

PRD40 PF40

Combi PRF or PRF1 Maste +PRD40

Combi PRF1 o PRF1 Master +PF40

Choice of disconnectors to be associated with the surge arresters

Surge arresters with integrated disconnector

The choice of a disconnector that is 100% coordinated with the surge arrester ensures complete safety at the e

Other surge arresters: choice of associate

6kA 10kA

PRD8 PF8

C60N 20A Curve C

C60H 20A Curve C

Quick PF 1P+N Isc = 6 kA

Quick PF 3P+N Isc = 6 kA

PRD20 PF20

C60N 25A Curve C

C60H 25A Curve C

PRD40 PF40

C60N 40A Curve C

C60H 40A Curve C

PRD65 PF65
Combi PRF1 1P+N Isc = 6 kA Combi PRF1 3P+N Isc = 6 kA

C60N 50A Curve C

C60H 50A Curve C

PRF1 Master

NS 160N 160A

pment

business equipment
Programmable machine, server, sound or light control system, etc.

heavy equipment
Medical, production, or heavy computer processing infrastructure, etc.

Fire alarm, omated heating or r-conditioning, lift, ess control, etc.

+
Dedicated protection, more than 30 m from a switchboard

+
Single switchboard or main switchboard

+
Dedicated protection, more than 30 m from a switchboard

+
Single switchboard or main switchboard

+
Dedicated protection, more than 30 m from a switchboard

Subdistribution board

Subdistribution board

F1

er

PRD20 PF20

PRD8 PF8

PRD40 PF40

PRD65 PF65

PRD65 PF65

Combi PRF1 or PRF1 Master +PRD40

Combi PRF1 or PRF1 Master +PF40

PRD20 PF20

PRD8 PF8

PRD65 PF65

Combi PRF1 Combi PRF1 Combi PRF1 or or + PRD40 PRF1 Master PRF1 Master +PRD40 +PRD40 Combi PRF1 +PF40
Combi PRF1 or PRF1 Master +PF40 Combi PRF1 or PRF1 Master +PF40

PRD20 PF20

PRD8 PF8

or r

end of life phase of the surge arrester.

Protection of telecommunications and computer equipment

Icc

ed disconnector
15kA 25kA 36kA 70kA

Lightning can also propagate through telecommunications and computer networks. It can damage all the equipment connected to these networks: telephones, modems, computers, servers, etc.

Contact us

Choice of PRC and PRI surge arresters

PRC

PRI

Contact us

Analogue telephone networks <200V

Contact us 50kA
NS 160H 160A

Digital networks, analogue lines <48V Digital networks, analogue lines <6V ELV load supply <48V

Merlin Gerin, a range for all your applications

Surge arrester Lightning protection 3P + N Reference 16618 16629 16630 (x4) 16559 16564 16569 16674 16574 16679 16579 15685 15586 15688 15690 15693 15696 Disconnector integrated integrated NS 106 N TM160D C60N or H C50 C60N or H C40 C60N or H C40 C60N or H C25 C60N or H C25 C60N or H C20 C60N or H C20 C60N or H C50 C60N or H C50 C60N or H C40 C60N or H C40 C60N or H C25 C60N or H C20

Merlin Gerin

Quick PF Combi PRF1 PRF1 Master PRD65r PRD40r PRD40 PRD20r PRD20 PRD8r PRD8 PF65r PF65 PF40r PF40 PF20 PF8

is at your side day by day and has designed simple, practical tools to help you quickly select and implement the right lightning protection:

product catalogue

Surge arrester Quick PF Combi PRF1 PRF1 Master PRD65r PRD40r PRD40 PRD20r PRD20 PRD8r PRD8 PF65 PF40 PF20 PF8

Lightning protection 1P + N Reference 16617 16626 16630 (x2) 15557 16562 16567 16672 16572 16677 16577 15684 15687 15692 15695

Disconnector integrated integrated NS 106 N TM160D C60N or H C50 C60N or H C40 C60N or H C40 C60N or H C25 C60N or H C25 C60N or H C20 C60N or H C20 C60N or H C50 C60N or H C40 C60N or H C25 C60N or H C20

uselection assistance software

Telecommunications and computer equipment protection Surge arrester Reference PRC PRI PRI 200V < 6V < 48V 16593 16594 16595

Schneider Electric Industries SAS

Electrical Distribution Communication 38050 Grenoble Cedex 9 - France Tel.: +33 (0)4 76 57 60 60 www.merlin-gerin.com www.schneider-electric.com

As standard specifications and designs change from time to time, please ask for confirmation of the information given in this publication.

Realization: Schneider Electric Design: Flix Cration Photos: Schneider Electric

M9DP80AEn

09.2006