Branch circuit surge arrester

Thread Starter

meowsoft

Joined Feb 27, 2021
607
It is good for branch circuit to have separated ground wire and direct connection to earth terminal ?, branch circuit is use 3x4mm² (R-N-PE) wire, It is better to use separated 1x25mm² wire that connected directly to earth terminal for branch circuit surge arrester ?, also if I use PE wire in 3x4mm² can surge current make damage to equipment ?, because 3x4mm² PE is use to electronics ground too... and also same network with bonding
If it is better to use separated ground wire, for economic reason, is use bigger PE wire for than branch feeder wire is safe ? In this case branch feeder is 3x4mm² so... we use 1x6mm² or 1x10mm²
 

LowQCab

Joined Nov 6, 2012
4,023
Smaller Wire will make Voltage-Spike-Control more effective, ( provide better protection ).
BUT, the Wire must be large enough to carry the expected Current without over-heating.

Smaller Wire has more resistance, this makes the job of the MOV, or TVS, device, easier.

MOV = Metal-Oxide-Varistor.
TVS = Transient-Voltage-Suppressor.
The term "Surge" is used incorrectly,
the correct term is "Spike" protection.
A "Surge" is a slow Voltage change, greater than 1 full AC Voltage Cycle.
A "Spike" may be extremely fast, and is always less than 1 full AC Voltage Cycle.
A Surge is very difficult to stop or regulate.
A Spike is usually easy to suppress.
Either one can damage Equipment, especially Electronic-Equipment.
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MOV .png
 

Thread Starter

meowsoft

Joined Feb 27, 2021
607
Smaller Wire will make Voltage-Spike-Control more effective, ( provide better protection ).
BUT, the Wire must be large enough to carry the expected Current without over-heating.

Smaller Wire has more resistance, this makes the job of the MOV, or TVS, device, easier.

MOV = Metal-Oxide-Varistor.
TVS = Transient-Voltage-Suppressor.
The term "Surge" is used incorrectly,
the correct term is "Spike" protection.
A "Surge" is a slow Voltage change, greater than 1 full AC Voltage Cycle.
A "Spike" may be extremely fast, and is always less than 1 full AC Voltage Cycle.
A Surge is very difficult to stop or regulate.
A Spike is usually easy to suppress.
Either one can damage Equipment, especially Electronic-Equipment.
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.
.
View attachment 236981
It is good for use separated ground for surge arrester or used PE wire in that circuit ?
 

LowQCab

Joined Nov 6, 2012
4,023
What does "PE" mean ?
Increasing the size of the Ground Wire will provide better protection.
Running 2 Ground Wires is not necessary.

Less Resistance in the Ground Wire will slightly increase Spike Protection.
Longer Wires, or, higher Resistance Wire,
when used for the Phase, and Neutral,
will slightly increase Spike Protection.
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Thread Starter

meowsoft

Joined Feb 27, 2021
607
What does "PE" mean ?
Increasing the size of the Ground Wire will provide better protection.
Running 2 Ground Wires is not necessary.

Less Resistance in the Ground Wire will slightly increase Spike Protection.
Longer Wires, or, higher Resistance Wire,
when used for the Phase, and Neutral,
will slightly increase Spike Protection.
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No, PE is ground wire for electric branch circuit, that use 3 core cables, phase, neutral, protective earth, but protective arth just 4mm
 
I think you can do two things:
Add what's called a "whole house" surge suppressor. It would connect to a breaker in the panel.

If you want to know what's best, put an isolation transformer for the entire panel or subpanel and do the neutral-ground bind on the secondary. That will give you the cleanest power and a good clean ground.
 

LowQCab

Joined Nov 6, 2012
4,023
In the USA, all wires must be the same size for each Branch-Circuit.
( excepting the Bond-Wire that connects the Grounding-Rod to the Main-Service-Entrance-Panel,
and certain special dedicated Motor Branch-Circuits )
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Thread Starter

meowsoft

Joined Feb 27, 2021
607
I think you can do two things:
Add what's called a "whole house" surge suppressor. It would connect to a breaker in the panel.

If you want to know what's best, put an isolation transformer for the entire panel or subpanel and do the neutral-ground bind on the secondary. That will give you the cleanest power and a good clean ground.
VERY WRONG, I Install dozens of surge arrester, No cost problem
 

Thread Starter

meowsoft

Joined Feb 27, 2021
607
In the USA, all wires must be the same size for each Branch-Circuit.
( excepting the Bond-Wire that connects the Grounding-Rod to the Main-Service-Entrance-Panel,
and certain special dedicated Motor Branch-Circuits )
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Yes... but you still don't understand my question...
 

Thread Starter

meowsoft

Joined Feb 27, 2021
607
Yes... but you still don't understand my question...
Let's define branch circuit, is only one outlets and one lamp, it's that branch circuit
For maximum protection I add surge arrester for all branch circuit, that goes from indoor to outdoor even just 2w lamp, it's have dedicated 90kA surge arrester
Even its was just waste money, no problem
It's about 4 dozens of surge arrester habe been installed
Main panel wire to that branch use 3x4mm² wire
That surge arrester Phase and Neutral is connected to that 3x4mm² wire
But what's about ground terminal ?, it's better to use 1x25mm² wire ?
 

Thread Starter

meowsoft

Joined Feb 27, 2021
607
I thing you can do two things:
Add what's called a "whole house" surge suppressor. It would connect to a breaker in the panel.

If you want to know what's best, put an isolation transformer for the entire panel or subpanel and do the neutral-ground bind on the secondary. That will give you the cleanest power and a good clean ground.
Nice idea for isolation transformer
 

LowQCab

Joined Nov 6, 2012
4,023
I still don't understand what your question is ................

The "Load" that a Spike-Arrestor is "protecting" is completely irrelevant.

More Spike-Arrestors is ALWAYS better.
Each Spike-Arrestor will assist all of the other Spike-Arrestors,
they all add together to "Clamp" the Voltage-Spike for the whole system.
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Thread Starter

meowsoft

Joined Feb 27, 2021
607
I still don't understand what your question is ................

The "Load" that a Spike-Arrestor is "protecting" is completely irrelevant.

More Spike-Arrestors is ALWAYS better.
Each Spike-Arrestor will assist all of the other Spike-Arrestors,
they all add together to "Clamp" the Voltage-Spike for the whole system.
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.
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Yes... but lightning arrester ground rod, (earth wire) is not connected to MDP earth terminal, but difference earth terminal
 
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