What is tvss in electrical panel?

Surge protector also known as Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor (TVSS), Surge Protection Devices (SPD) or Surge Suppression Equipment (SSE) is the equipment designed to protect electrical and electronic equipments from power surges and voltage spikes.

TVSS (Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor) and SPD (Surge Protective Device), both refer to the device that can protect the low-voltage electrical system from damages of transients, spikes or surges (indirect lightning strike induced from power lines).

The term TVSS is more popular in UL standard countries like United States, Canada and some countries in Middle and South America or even Philippines.

TVSS vs TVS, are they the same?

Note that do not mix the term TVSS with TVS. TVS is abbreviation for transient voltage suppressor. From their name, they seems like the same thing. Yet in surge protection industry, TVS is an electrical component (a diode) that serves the purpose of surge suppression. It is one the top 3 most common surge protection components (the other 2 is MOV and GDT ). Like MOV and GDT, TVS can be used to make TVSS and in fact it is normally used togeter with MOV and GDT. GDT can handle very large lightning and surge current yet it responds quite slow while TVS can only handle a very small surge current yet it responds way much faster than GDT and MOV and thus the 3 form an perfect coordination in surge suppression.

Why do SPD manufacturers no longer describe their products as TVSS?

TVSS devices have always belonged to a larger family of surge suppression devices known as SPDs (Surge Protective Devices). Beginning with UL 1449 3rd Edition and the 2008 National Electrical Code, the term “SPD” has formally replaced the terms “TVSS” (Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor) and “Secondary Surge Arrester”. SPDs are now classified as Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 or Type 4 and are selected based on application and the location where they are to be used. With the recent changes in terminology by UL and the NEC, there are no longer any standards organizations that use the term TVSS, as IEEE®, IEC® and NEMA™ have been using the term “SPD” for many years.

This is a simple version of the evolution of TVSS to SPD. Yet technically, TVSS and SPD is not interchangeable. A formerlly known TVSS is now a type 2 SPD as in the old version UL standard, TVSS is installed at the load side of the service entrance. Yet SPD can be installed eithered at the load side or the line side.

However, for general consumers, you are take TVSS and SPD as the same thing and neglect the technical minor difference.

TVSS is Surge Suppressor or Surge Protector in the form of power strip?

Well, there are a lot of power strip or receptacle with surge protection function on the market. Normally we call these type of products surge suppressor or surge protector and one of their major parameter is the joules rating. Yet these surge suppressors or surge protectors in the form of power strip don’t equal to TVSS.

You can think of TVSS as a big product family and surge suppressor or surge protector are only part of it. Technically, we call these surge suppressor or surge protector type 3 TVSS or point-of-use TVSS as they normally installed aside by the protected equipment and serve as the last defence for surge protection. Type 1 or type 2 TVSS is normally in the form of a box or panel, sometimes can be quite large. Its major parameter is not Joules rating but surge capacity. Type 1/2/3 TVSS forms a coordinated 3 layers surge protection mechanism.

How does TVSS (transient voltage surge suppressor) work?

The terms surge protection device (SPD) and transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS) are used to describe electrical devices typically installed in power distribution panels, process control systems, communications systems, and other heavy-duty industrial systems, for the purpose of protecting against electrical surges and spikes, including those caused by lightning. Scaled-down versions of these devices are sometimes installed in residential service entrance electrical panels, to protect equipment in a household from similar hazards.

What does transient stand for in the term transient voltage surge suppressor?

If you look up the dictionary, transient means last for a short period of time. Or if you look up the Wikipedia, it will tell you: A transient event is a short-lived burst of energy in a system caused by a sudden change of state.

Yet in surge suppression field, how short is a transient? If the overvoltage last for, for example, 5 seconds, is it a transient? Definitely not. In surge suppression, transient surge happen in microsecond (1/1000 second) or even millisecond (1/1000000 second). So now you realize that how fast can a surge be.

And that brings up another topic: what is a overvoltage last for longer than an transient and how will a surge suppressor (or a surge protection device) respond to this situation?

While much attention is given to the need to safeguard critical systems against power outages, the fact of the matter is, it doesn’t take a complete blackout to wreak havoc on sensitive electronic equipment. In fact, a wide range of power anomalies can cause significant damage to your equipment. One ongoing threat is dangerous voltage surges, which can result from culprits ranging from lightning strikes to the routine switching of large loads in data centers and process control environments.

Safeguarding equipment with a common type of power conditioning known as a transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS) is a simple yet highly effective measure to help prevent damage to your devices. (And if you’re thinking you don’t need a TVSS because you already have an uninterruptible power system (UPS) in place, keep reading. One of the greatest misconceptions is that UPSs will protect equipment from lightning strikes or high-energy electrical spikes; they don’t.)

While much attention is given to the need to safeguard critical systems against power outages, the fact of the matter is, it doesn’t take a complete blackout to wreak havoc on sensitive electronic equipment. In fact, a wide range of power anomalies can cause significant damage to your equipment. One ongoing threat is dangerous voltage surges, which can result from culprits ranging from lightning strikes to the routine switching of large loads in data centers and process control environments.

Safeguarding equipment with a common type of power conditioning known as a transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS) is a simple yet highly effective measure to help prevent damage to your devices. (And if you’re thinking you don’t need a TVSS because you already have an uninterruptible power system (UPS) in place, keep reading. One of the greatest misconceptions is that UPSs will protect equipment from lightning strikes or high-energy electrical spikes; they don’t.)

Installing a transient voltage surge suppressor helps to guard against these damaging voltage surges. TVSS accomplishes this surge protection with a switch that constantly monitors the AC voltage input and output waveforms. Although nothing happens under normal operating conditions, when the TVSS senses a voltage that exceeds operating parameters, it will clamp the voltage to a safe level before it reaches the equipment, with excess current diverted to the ground.

It is important to note that even with a TVSS installed, the force of a direct lightning strike is still capable of damaging sensitive equipment. While no device can guarantee complete protection against a such a hit, one type of TVSS known as a lightning arrester provides the best protection when installed at the main service entrance.

The UL 1449 standard specifies four different types of TVSS, which are determined by the installation location. Type 1 TVSS is usually installed on the line side of the service entrance, but is applicable anywhere within the power distribution system. Type 2 TVSS is installed on the load side of the service entrance, or branch panel. Type 3 TVSS ― which usually consists of power strips, receptacles or plugs ― is installed near the protected equipment. t is known as surge protection module. Finally, Type 4 provides protection to servo motors, PLCs and other devices used in industrial applications.

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Transient voltage surge suppressor, surge protective device, voltage surge suppression, surge arresters, lightning arresters, arc flash protection, surge monitors, overcurrent protection … and the list goes on. With so many potential product lines, it can be difficult to know which devices are the same and which are different ― making it even more challenging to determine the optimal protection device for your electrical equipment. Worse still can be deciphering the extensive range of acronyms that encompass the terminology of power distribution and critical power protection devices, leaving you to wonder if you’re trapped in a steaming pot of alphabet soup. But don’t despair; we break it down here.

Transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS) and surge protective devices (SPD) both refer to a piece of equipment that can protect low-voltage electric systems from damaging transients, spikes or surges. The term TVSS tends to be more popular in countries that adhere to UL standard, such as the U.S. and Canada. Although TVSS devices have always belonged to a larger family of surge suppression devices known as surge protective devices, or SPDs, beginning with UL 1449 3rd Edition and the 2008 National Electrical Code, the term SPD formally replaced the labels of both “TVSS” and “Secondary Surge Arrester.”

So if TVSS and SPD are the same devices, what about another commonly tossed-around acronym, TVS? While they sound similar, it is important to note that TVSS and TVS are not interchangeable terms. TVS is the abbreviation for transient voltage suppressor, which is an electrical component or diode that serves the purpose of a surge suppressor. TVS is one of the three most common elements used to manufacture TVSS devices, with the others being MOV and GDT.

Damaged electronic equipment. An increased need for service calls. Unexplained system shutdowns or errors. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, transient voltages may be the culprit. Transient voltage surge suppressors can be deployed with any equipment that connects to electricity, telephone lines or computer data/communication lines, including computers and peripherals such as printers, monitors, speakers, fax machines and modems; PABX and communication systems; entertainment components; medical devices such as surgical instruments and scientific equipment; security systems; and other electrical equipment.

One of the most common misunderstandings about UPSs is they will protect equipment from lightning strikes or high-energy electrical spikes. While this may be true for some smaller single-phase units, the vast majority of medium to large three-phase UPS models do not provide internal lightning or TVSS protection. Because of this, it is critical to install a TVSS at the electrical panel feeding the input power to your UPS. Both the rectifier and bypass inputs to the UPS require protection.