Surge Protection Devices

Surge protection devices help to protect devices and equipment against changes in the electrical current running through the system. Current spikes or transients can cause significant damage to equipment and is also a safety hazard. You can learn more in our guide to industrial surge protection.

At RS, we offer a wide range of Surge Protectors from trusted brands such as Eaton, Siemens, ABB, and Schneider Electric ensuring high-quality solutions for every application. Our selection also includes** Better World products**, designed with sustainability in mind, featuring eco-friendly materials, extended life cycles, and reduced environmental impact. With thousands of options available and Next Day Delivery, RS makes it easy to find the right Surge Protectors for your needs quickly and responsibly.

Types of surge Protectors

Surge protection devices involve the use of surge suppressors or protectors and surge arresters.

Suppressors protect equipment from voltage spikes. They block or short to ground the current in, for instance, power distribution panels, process control systems and heavy industrial systems.

Arresters protect machinery from external occurrences that cause over-voltage transients like lightning strikes or switching events. These are installed in power transmission and distribution systems.

Four primary types of industrial surge protection exist:

**▪ Type 1 SPDs **- Protects against external surges, such as lightning strikes or power grid switching. Surge Arresters are often Type 1 SPDs.   ▪ Type 2 SPDs - Also known as surge protectors or suppressors, these are mounted at distribution boards to protect against internal surges, like those from switching loads or equipment start-up.  ▪ Type 3 SPDs – Sometimes known as Point-of-Use Protection as it is installed close to sensitive devices (e.g., servers, PLCs, or AV equipment) to protect against low-energy transients.