Supply protection beyond surge suppression

12 March 2003 Circuit & System Protection

Although quality surge suppressors provide hardware protection from lightning and power spikes, they provide no protection for data, which is often more valuable than hardware. Data loss is frequently caused by power sags - which are short-term decreases in voltage levels. Bell Labs cites this as accounting for 87% of all power disturbances that surge suppressors are not designed to handle.

"For this reason, organisations would do well to consider the use of American Power Conversion's (APC) Line-R unit," says Carl Kleynhans, country general manager: Africa at APC. "The Line-R is a microprocessor-controlled tap changing power conditioner that automatically corrects sags and overvoltages by boosting low voltage and stepping down high voltage to levels that are safe for your system.

"In addition to providing multistage surge protection and noise filtering, the product offers full-time EMI/RFI filters to handle all problems equipment is likely to face. A voltage meter on the Line-R's front panel displays the relative input voltage level and alerts users to low or high voltage conditions. A front panel surge protection integrity light indicates the health of the circuitry. In addition, an audible alarm alerts users to extreme input voltages that cannot be corrected to within the normal output voltage regulation band.

"Line-R automatically performs self-tests and its 'adaptive mode' also senses and corrects frequency tap changing, thereby reducing wear on the relays for a longer life span and quiet operation," says Kleynhans.

For more information contact Jacqui Gradwell, APC, 011 465 5414, [email protected]

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