N Lightning Protector - Male to Female Bulkhead 0-6 GHz

Power strips are useful devices, but alone they won’t give you the complete surge protection you need. Comprehensive surge protection is needed to safeguard electrical systems and data networks. Electrical surges, whether from lightning strikes, power grid fluctuations, or other sources, can damage electronic equipment and infrastructure. This can lead to costly repairs, data loss, and downtime for businesses and homes alike.

Installing surge protectors can mitigate these risks and ensure the longevity and reliability of electrical and data systems. There are five main types of surge protection devices (SPDs), each designed to address specific types of surges and protect different aspects of your infrastructure:

  • Coaxial surge protectors
  • Data line surge protectors
  • Power surge protectors
  • USB surge protectors
  • Grounding accessories

By understanding the different types of surge protection available and their applications, you can choose the right solutions to safeguard your systems. Below we explore the chief functions and benefits of each of the five types.

Coaxial and Data Line Surge Protectors

Though they serve different purposes, both coaxial surge protectors and data line surge protectors have similar basic functions. Coaxial surge protectors protect coaxial cables and the devices connected to them from power surges and lightning strikes. Data line surge protectors do the same for data transmission lines and the devices connected to them and can be used with various types of data cables, including Ethernet cables, telephone lines, and other networking cables.

Here are their primary functions:

  • Protection against surges: Both coaxial surge protectors and data line SPDs have the main function of guarding against surges caused by electrical disturbances.
  • Clamping voltage: Both coaxial and data line surge protectors “clamp” the voltage to a safe level when a surge occurs. This prevents excessive voltage from reaching connected devices.
  • Path to ground: Both types of SPD provide a path for excess voltage or current to be safely diverted to the ground.
  • Impedance matching: Coaxial surge protectors maintain the characteristic impedance of the coaxial cable (e.g., 50 or 75 ohms) to ensure signal quality and minimize reflections and losses in the transmission line.
  • Frequency compatibility: Coaxial surge protectors operate over a specific frequency range (such as VHF, UHF, or microwave frequencies) and ensure that the SPD does not introduce significant insertion loss or other impairments to the signal.
  • Preservation of signal integrity: Data line surge protectors maintain the integrity of the data signal, ensuring minimal impact on data transmission speed and quality.
  • Insertion loss minimization: Good-quality data line surge protectors minimize insertion loss, which can cause attenuation of the data signal.

ShowMeCables offers coaxial surge protectors with a variety of popular connector types and covering several frequency ranges. Our indoor and outdoor data line SPDs cover Ethernet and PoE lightning protection for Cat 3 through Cat 6a and RS-422/RS-485.

Power Surge Protectors

The vast majority of power surge protectors fall into four categories:

  • Type 2 AC surge protectors protect the electrical system of a building against surges originating from within the building or from external sources. Typically, they are installed at the main electrical service panel. ShowMeCables offers them rated at up to 480 Vac and housed in watertight and corrosion-proof NEMA 4X enclosures.
  • DC power surge protectors come in two main types: one is a DIN-rail mount with a terminal block for lower voltage DC systems, and the other is a higher-voltage protector (UL1449 Type 1 or 2). The DIN-rail models typically handle lower voltages, which suits them to protect DC systems like low-voltage lighting, control circuits, and telecom equipment. The higher voltage models, UL1449 Type 1 or 2 rated, can be installed either on the line side (Type 1) or load side (Type 2) of the main service disconnect, and can handle higher surges.
  • Power strips have come a long way since they were introduced decades ago. ShowMeCables offers them with up to eight outlets and 300 volts of capacity, and in seven lengths. Special features include USB charging ports, rotating plug, NEMA 5-15 outlets, screw-on mount, telephone line protection, and fast-acting SASD protection.
  • In-wall power surge protectors are the low-profile plug-in modules that turn one outlet into more. Newer features now being offered include an LED surge indicator and a model with two USB ports and a built-in cell phone holder.

USB Surge Protectors

The widespread popularity of USB-powered devices has increased the need to prevent power surges and spikes via USB ports. Such surges can damage both the ports and the peripheral devices connected to them, such as keyboards, mice, printers, and external drives. Surges can also cause data corruption and data loss, especially if they occur during data transmission.

ShowMeCables can help you prevent such damage and disruption. Our panel-mount style USB surge protectors use ultra-low-capacitance diodes to protect data lines and ensure USB 2.0 speeds. In addition, a protection device clamps the power lines to safe levels.

Grounding Accessories

Grounding accessories eliminate shock hazards as well as equipment disruptions caused by lightning strikes and electrical system faults. They include isolating spark gaps, equipotential bonding bars, and lightning rods. Spark gaps equalize the potential between the high- and low-voltage sides of an AC service grounding system. Bonding bars minimize the risk of dangerous voltage differences between interconnected conductive elements in a facility grounding system. Lightning rods prevent facility lightning strikes, while providing a safe path to the grounding system if strikes do occur.

ShowMeCables offers spark gaps with a high current-carrying capacity of 100 kA – ideal for lightning protection systems or in industrial environments where power fluctuations can occur. Our grounding bonding bars have options for 6 or 16 attachment points, whichever is best for your commercial, industrial, or pipeline installation. Our lightning rods present options for a single-spire or triple-spire rooftop, or for direct mounting to a security camera.

ShowMeCables’ surge protection solutions are in stock and available with same-day shipping, and in-stock products ordered before 5 p.m. ET ship the same day. If you have any questions about our surge protection, contact our U.S.-based customer service at +1 (888) 519-9505, email us, or chat.