Surge absorbers are designed to absorb and dissipate the energy of the surge within the device itself, thereby protecting the equipment downstream.
Construction:
- Surge absorbers typically use materials with nonlinear resistance characteristics, such as metal oxide varistors (MOVs). These materials have a high resistance at normal operating voltages but become highly conductive at higher voltages, allowing them to absorb the surge energy.
- Surge absorbers include capacitors and inductors to filter and smooth out transient voltages. These components help in mitigating the effects of fast-rising voltage spikes and maintaining the stability of the power supply.
Working Principle
Under normal voltage conditions, the surge absorber presents a high resistance, allowing the standard operating voltage to pass through without significant attenuation or energy loss. When a transient over-voltage occurs, the nonlinear resistance material’s conductivity increases sharply, allowing it to absorb and dissipate the excess energy as heat. The capacitors and inductors, if present, help filter out high-frequency components of the surge, further protecting the connected equipment.
After the surge has been absorbed, the device returns to its high-resistance state, ready to protect against future surges.
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