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To some extent, yes. The amount is going to be determined by a variety of factors. These include, basic specifications of the device, specification of the installation, and physical installation of the equipment.
| What does "Clamping Voltage" mean? |
The clamping voltage is the voltage level the unit reacts at. If, for example, we wet the clamping voltage on a 120v unit at 132 volts, the unit will do nothing until the voltage exceeds this level.
| Is Clamping Voltage Important? |
Yes. It is one of the primary specifications of a surge suppression device. Remember, until voltage exceeds the rated clamping voltage, the device does nothing. It only stands to reason that clamping voltages at levels as close as possible to the NORMAL operating requirements of the equipment makes good sense. An organization can claim that equipment is designed to accept elevated voltages (for example, CBEMA indicates that voltages as high as 300 volts on a 120 volt line are of minor concern), and be absolutely correct.
Here's an example. You can run your car completely out of oil or water and survive the event if you shut it down soon enough. It doesn't mean that your car will be undamaged by the event...only that the damage done THIS time wasn't enough to kill it.
IMPORTANT! You can build a device with the lowest voltage possible...and render it no more effective than the cheapest device through improper installation. Your Stedi-Power Distributors are specifically trained to install our equipment so it is able to perform at its best.
Also, See detailed information about "Let-Through Voltage"
| What does "Let-Through-Voltage" mean? |
This is the actual amount of volts that the system will allow to pass during the entire period of an event which produces a "clamp". It does not necessarily mean that this voltage is consistent throughout the event, it's the maximum amount seen throughout the entire event. It is possible that you may see a higher let-through voltage on one unit compared to another, for example, but the performance of the unit that "let-through" the higher voltage was better because the amount of time that the system saw the elevated voltage was not long enough to have practical impact...and the remainder of time the event occurred, which encompasses an amount of time where elevated voltages could produce damage, showed a lower exposure in terms of voltage "seen".
Also, See detailed information about "Let-Through Voltage"
| What does "Reaction Time" or "Reaction Speed" mean? |
This is the amount of time it takes a device to "see" an event and react to it. Surge Protective Devices are not able to "look in the direction electricity is coming from" and initiate a reaction before the event actually gets to the Surge Protective Device. Further, you can limit the ability of the Surge Protective Device to "see" elevated voltages by putting numerous connections and long suppressor leads into the equation.
| I've been told "Reaction Speed" isn't important. Is this true? |
Our chief engineer doesn't play basketball well. If you ask him if playing basketball is important, his reply will most likely be "Of course not!". This is the kernel that produces many claims of this type. It has some importance, but not as much as some people in this industry (usually those trying to sell product) would have you believe.
Part of this reason is that most products in the field today claim reaction speeds of less than 5 nanoseconds. Most state their reaction speeds in terms such as "less than 5 nanoseconds" or "less than 1 nanosecond".
From a statistical viewpoint, the amount of difference (in terms of transient activity) that two devices see (one reacting in a nanosecond...and one reacting at some fraction of that...even hundredths of a nanoseconds) is insignificant.
| A competitor is claiming "pico-second" reaction time. Is this better? |
Let's put it this way....
If a second were a THOUSAND MILES
One nanosecond would be .000005 foot, or about .012 inch (twelve hundredths of an inch).
One hundred picoseconds would be .0012 inch (twelve thousandths of an inch).
The difference between the two, in regards to the "extra" transients that the supposed "faster" device would see...is meaningless.
A nanosecond is 1000 picoseconds. It's only useful for measuring parts of a nanosecond. If a manufacture is claiming reaction times under a nanosecond with a specific number, he either doesn't know what he's talking about...or it is a lie. We have seen one manufacturer that makes such claims and we have, in our possession, a copy of test results that claim exactly the same number...from a different manufacturer. This test was done in the 1980's...when the technology to accurately measure such events did not exist.
Demand that this manufacturer provide written proof from a third-party testing laboratory that is nationally recognized...and forget you saw his representative...because you won't be seeing them again.
We only claim reaction speeds of "less than a nanosecond" because:
- There is no "standard" for measuring reaction speed.
- The setup used to measure reaction speed has a great deal to do with the result. Here's a question for you. If you are measuring reaction speed at a component...and the leads to your measuring equipment are two feet long and the engineer down-the-street has leads ONE foot long...will there be a difference?
- Finally...we have seen claims that are not scientifically defensible because they cannot be repeated. Consider that to measure a reaction speed of ONE NANOSECOND you are looking at an event that has a frequency of ONE GIGAHERTZ. Calibration standards require that to produce certifiable results you need to have equipment with at least ten times the resolution of the unit being measured. There is no such thing (today) as a TEN GIGAHERTZ SCOPE.* See the problem?
*note: We just recently saw a state-of-the art (just released) system, for about $60,000....that is a SIX GIGAHERTZ scope.
