Vicor Transient Protection devices provide advanced protection for power systems against voltage transients, surges, and spikes that can damage sensitive electronic equipment. These solutions include TVS diodes, varistors, and other protection components designed to safeguard power systems from electrical disturbances.
Overview
Transient protection is critical in power systems to prevent damage from voltage spikes, electrostatic discharge (ESD), electrical fast transients (EFT), and surge events. Vicor's transient protection solutions offer comprehensive defense strategies for power systems in harsh electrical environments.
These protection devices are designed to clamp voltage transients to safe levels while diverting excessive energy away from sensitive downstream components. They respond rapidly to protect equipment from both common-mode and differential-mode transients.
Key Features
Fast Response Time
Protection devices respond in picoseconds to nanoseconds to clamp transient voltages before they can damage sensitive components.
High Energy Handling
Designed to absorb and dissipate high-energy transients without degradation of performance or protection capability.
Low Capacitance
Low capacitance options preserve signal integrity while providing protection in high-frequency applications.
Multiple Protection Types
Offering TVS diodes, varistors, gas discharge tubes, and combination solutions for comprehensive protection.
Technical Specifications
| Model | Clamping Voltage | Peak Pulse Current | Capacitance | Working Voltage | Response Time | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TPx-15V-150A | 25V | 150A (8/20µs) | 15pF | 15V | 1ps | Low-voltage protection |
| TPx-24V-300A | 40V | 300A (8/20µs) | 25pF | 24V | 1ps | Industrial power supplies |
| TPx-48V-600A | 70V | 600A (8/20µs) | 35pF | 48V | 1ps | Telecom power systems |
| TPx-72V-1000A | 110V | 1000A (8/20µs) | 50pF | 72V | 1ps | High-power industrial |
| TPx-100V-1500A | 150V | 1500A (8/20µs) | 70pF | 100V | 1ps | High-voltage systems |
Applications
Vicor Transient Protection solutions are suitable for a wide range of applications where electrical disturbances could damage equipment. Common applications include:
Data Center Equipment
Protecting sensitive computing equipment from power line transients and switching noise.
Telecommunications
Safeguarding telecom infrastructure from lightning-induced surges and switching transients.
Industrial Automation
Protecting factory automation equipment from electrical noise and transient events.
Design Considerations
Protection Coordination
Transient protection should be coordinated with other system components to ensure proper clamping levels without interfering with normal operation. The clamping voltage must be above the maximum normal operating voltage but below the withstand voltage of sensitive components.
Energy Dissipation
Consider the energy handling requirements based on the expected transient environment. Higher energy transients may require protection devices with greater energy handling capacity or multiple protection stages.
System Integration
Proper placement of protection devices is critical for optimal performance. Protection should be placed as close as possible to the point of entry or to the equipment being protected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between TVS diodes and varistors?
TVS diodes have faster response times and more precise clamping voltages, while varistors can handle higher energy levels but have slower response times and less precise clamping.
How do I select the right transient protection device?
Consider the working voltage, expected transient levels, response time requirements, mounting constraints, and the withstand voltage of components to be protected.
Can transient protection devices handle repeated transients?
Yes, properly selected transient protection devices are designed to handle repeated transients without degradation, but extremely high energy events may cause degradation over time.