The outdoor luminaires used in the past had robust cores, coil ballasts, and high-discharge lamps. Electromagnetic interference never used to affect these lamps. LED lights are fast replacing heritage light sources such as metal halide, mercury vapor, and sodium vapor lamps for outdoor applications because of the efficiency factor. LEDs provide higher lumens per watt, come with better lenses/reflectors, and offer greater thermal dissipation and are thus suitable for Outdoor Lighting. However, the sensitive electronic components used in LED lamps must be protected from electromagnetic interference, especially because they are exposed to harsh environments. If they are not protected, they may not last long. That is the reason you need Surge Protection Devices for Outdoor Lighting.
Why LED Luminaires Need To Be Protected
Transient surge events pose a significant threat to the LED lightings installed for outdoor applications. This is to say that the transient surge events occurring in AC power lines often cause damages to lighting fixtures. Switching on and off of electrical equipment near LED luminaire installations induce indirect surges in AC power transmission lines. Lightning strikes can also cause transient surges in power lines. The magnitude of lightning strikes, electrostatic discharges between clouds or from clouds to the ground, is often in the range of millions of volts. Lightning strikes that occur many miles away are also known to induce magnetic fields and generate surges in the range of thousands of volts through overhead transmission lines as well as underground cables used for powering streetlights.
How Surge Protection Devices for Outdoor Lighting Work
Surge protection devices have electronic components and are connected to the power input point of the LED luminaires. The SPDs detect abnormal voltages and capture high-energy surges through what is referred to as the clamping action. This brings the voltage back to the normal level. The SPD redirects the high-energy surge away from the LED luminaire’s sensitive components. The higher the energy rating of the SPD, the longer will be its life.
Devtech Surge Guard (DSG)
Devtech’s Surge Guard (DSG 1510/1520) is a very robust device with a rating of 10kV/20kV. The combined Type 2+3 or Class II+III surge protection device connected in series is designed to for protecting the sensitive electrical as well as electronic components that can be easily damaged due to high voltage surges and over-voltage transients often caused by utility switching, indirect lightning, switching on and off of PF capacitor banks, load switching, etc.
DSG helps to reduce the downtime of outdoor LED light installations. Devtech’s Surge Guard is the right solution if the goal is to ensure maximum protection for outdoor lighting investments. The greatest advantage of using this surge guard is that it can be linked with any existing or new lighting installation, regardless of the technology employed (HID/LED/Induction/Plasma).
Devtech has a complete range of surge protection solutions, including Premium, Superior, and Value Line surge protection devices. The company provides the SPDs with test reports from reputed third-party labs. The Surge Protection Devices for Outdoor Lighting products of the company are successfully tested as per IEC61643-11 and ANSI C 136.2-2015 standards.