FAQ

Surge protectors cannot be "reset." But it will auto-reset after one surge discharge event.

Under normal operation, these devices will operate indefinitely. The devices have been engineered by WPX, an "ISO9001:2008" certified industry leading manufacturer and are built to withstand multiple surge events. Our world class test facility assures maximum design efficiencies and assures maximum accuracy, quality, and dependability. WPX demonstrates its faith in these products with a 1-year product warranty for the SPD.

Built-in surge protectors often aren’t strong enough to handle larger surges and spikes and, like other smaller surge protectors, can wear out without your even knowing it, leaving you with no protection at all. Built-in protection for one piece of equipment may still leave you without protection for important equipment such as PLC, Computer, CCTV system, SCADA, telephone, answering machines, modems, printers, etc.

Clamping voltage (Voltage protection level), also referred to as let through voltage or the Voltage Protection Rating (VPR), is the amount of voltage a surge protector permits to pass through it to the attached load (ex: a TV) during a surge event. Clamping voltage is a performance measurement of a surge protector's ability to attenuate a surge, or more simply, to reduce the surge to a manageable level. For example, a surge protector might limit a 6,000V surge so that only 600V is ‘visible’ to the load. The clamping voltage is 600V. This performance value is confirmed by En61643 during tests conducted while evaluating a surge protector.

Surge current capacity is the maximum amount of surge current that a surge protector can pass for a single surge event. This level is used to indicate the protection capacity of a particular surge protector. For example, in a high exposure area with a high likelihood for lightning, a larger surge current capacity might be desired. But, be aware that surges have natural limitations and that larger surge current capacity tends to add redundancy rather than the implied ability to handle an extremely large surge. For example, an entire lightning strike cannot go through wire; much like a fire hose has difficulty shooting through a soda straw. Realistically, surge protectors do not need to be sized for entire lightning strikes. But, there are valid reasons for adding excess surge current capacity for redundancy reasons.
The surge protection industry uses kiloamperage (kA) as a measure of the products surge current capacity. All of WPX products list the kA rating for the surge capacity. kA ratings at or above 10kA (10,000 Amperes) are generally acceptable.

Any Surge Protective Device that you consider must be in accordance with En61643 standard. When comparing surge protectors it is important to consider both the surge current capacity and clamping voltage to determine the performance of the surge protector. Please reference “What is surge current capacity?” and “What is clamping voltage?”

Surge Protectors are designed to reduce and divert potentially damaging short-duration voltage spikes safely out of the system to Ground. This is similar in concept to pressure relief valves that protect water heaters from overpressure. It is a common misconception that surge protectors "absorb" surges when in fact their purpose is to divert the surge away from the protected equipment to Ground.

Because we use so many things like PLC, Switch, router, pumps, CCTV systems all the time, disturbances happen frequently.

 
The map above shows the average yearly counts of lightning flashes per square kilometer based on data collected by NASA's Lightning Imaging Sensor on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite between 1995 and 2002. Places where less than one flash occurred (on average) each year are gray or light purple. The places with the largest number of lightning strikes are deep red, grading to black

Common AC circuit breakers don’t react quickly enough to protect sensitive electronic equipment. WPX’s SPD reacts in less that a billionth of a second. Also, it’s important to note that Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) circuit breakers are not surge protectors and therefore do not provide surge protection. They protect against shock hazard.

Yes. The reality is that surges are occuring daily and effecting the equipment in your home, office or factory. Typically surge protection is attributed to "lightning protection" but the fact of the matter is that surges are caused most often from utility disturbances and internally generated surges. It is common for factory or home owners to lose equipment due to surge damage and not even realize it. Many “mysterious” equipment, and computer problems such as devices failure are actually due to electrical surges. Also, breakdowns and replacements of electronic equipment due to what you think of as “normal” wear and tear may actually be due to internally or externally caused surges.

The Surge Protection is a system of surge protectors working together to eliminate surges from a number of external and internal sources. Applying surge protectors at the incoming electrical, cable/satellite, control system, and telephone utility services keep externally generated surges from entering your office or factory or home. Localized surge protectors applied to sensitive electronics safeguard against internally generated surges.

Power surges (referred to as transients in the industry) are extremely brief, abnormally high voltage spikes on the AC power. There are a number of conditions that affect the quality of power you receive with power surges by far the most common. Every piece of electrical equipment in your home is designed to operate at a specified nominal voltage such as 230V / 120 Volts AC. Most equipment is designed to handle minor variations in their standard nominal operating voltage; however, even the smallest power surges can be very damaging to nearly all equipment.