Move Over MOV Failure: New Thermal Protection in GE's New UL 1449 2nd Edition Compliant TVSS Line

Posted by www.metaloxidevaristor.cn on 1/19/2010

LOMBARD, IL - GE Consumer & Industrial's new lineup of Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors (TVSS) feature a patented Thermally Protected Metal Oxide Varistor (TPMOV®) technology, an advancement that includes a safety feature that shuts down the TVSS to prevent overheating and ensures compliancy with UL 1449 2nd Edition requirements for all TVSS products. Ideally suited for use in demanding and sensitive commercial and industrial environments, all GE TVSS products are UL Listed and bear the UL mark.

"Our new thermally protected, metal-oxide varistor design was developed to help eliminate the hazards associated with certain failure characteristics of MOVs," says Kristi Saathoff, GE Consumer & Industrial's TVSS Product Manager. "The TPMOV is a fail-safe device that provides an immediate and clean disconnect from abnormal, power frequency over-voltage conditions that would normally result in a potentially unsafe MOV failure."

GE's new TVSS line can be used without a dedicated breaker and still comply with UL 1449 2nd Edition requirements (revised in February 2007). Such performance is particularly important to customers without room for an extra, dedicated breaker in the panel.

Designed for service entrance, distribution and point of use locations, GE's TVSS line is available in three configurations: (1) wall-mount construction; (2) box extension for attaching directly to the top or bottom of branch panels, or (3) as an integrated construction within GE panelboards and switchboards. The full line has been third-party tested to ANSI/IEEE C3 10kA 8x20µs impulses. The wall-mount design offers a small size and weight, which ease installation in tight electrical rooms. The Integrated design eliminates installation errors, saves wall space and can reduce the installed cost of the added protection.

In addition to the additional safety feature, GE's TVSS line features:

1. Optional UL 1283 noise filtering, attenuation at -50db minimum @100kHz, in accordance with the procedures outlined in NEMA LS 1-1992 (R2000)/MIL-STD-220B;

2. Reliable operation - UL tested to 200,000 amperes (High Exposure models and Full-Featured Wall Mount models) and 100,000 amperes (A-Series and Pro-Stock lighting panel models) symmetrical withstand. The High Exposure models are capable of surviving a minimum of 20,000 category C3 impulses (10kA, 20kV) per mode while the Medium Exposure units are capable of surviving a minimum of 5,000 category C3 impulses (10kA, 20kV) per mode;

3. No need for additional upstream fuses with integration of thermally protected MOVs;

4. Remote monitoring utilizing NO/NC Form C dry type contacts;

5. Simple monitoring and operation with green status indicator lights, red service light, audible alarm with test/disable feature and optional LCD surge counter.

The GE TVSS line offers a standard five-year limited warranty and an optional ten-year limited warranty.

All GE TVSS units integrally mounted to GE distribution equipment, as well as the box-extension version, will convert to the new TPMOV design. GE's wall-mount TVSS units will be available in the existing configuration as well as the new design.

Originally revised in February 2005 (updates can be found in the UL 1449 standard, section 37.3.1.) and effective since February 9, 2007, the UL 1449, 2nd Edition, safety standard requires all TVSS manufacturers to maintain a UL Listed or UL Recognized status. All GE TVSS products are fully compliant with the February 2007 UL safety code revisions.

TPMOV® is a registered trademark of Ferraz Shawmut.

GE Consumer & Industrial spans the globe as an industry leader in major appliance, lighting and integrated industrial equipment, systems and services. Providing solutions for commercial, industrial and residential use in more than 100 countries.

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