Are transients really a Power Quality issue and do only computer applications require protection?
Transient over-voltages are a major cause of malfunction or total failure of electronic circuitry and equipment. These transients occur whenever there are sudden changes in a power distribution system, whether resulting from lightning or utility-switching disturbances on incoming power lines. These changes can create transients so intense they literally destroy sensitive electronics. Energy changes within the system are responsible for more than 80% of surge suppression events. With such changes, voltage spikes are created by the energy stored in reactive components (inductance and capacitance). These voltage impulses can destroy semi-conductor devices, reduce the dielectric strength of insulation, damage electromechanical contacts and cause logic circuitry errors by stray signals imposed on logic reference levels.
