Power supply surge protection for industrial control panels is not just a recommended practice but an essential legal requirement, a mandatory measure to protect electrical systems. Typical control panels are usually equipped with backup fuses larger than 315A, and the distribution board's surge protector works alongside the backup fuses. These backup fuses have high demands on cable length and protection levels, making the installation of surge protectors particularly important.
Control panels can be seen as central power hubs connecting various electrical devices, making them susceptible to events such as lightning strikes and surges that can lead to equipment damage, surge interruptions, and downtime losses. Here are the main benefits of power supply surge protection for industrial control panels:
Surge protection effectively prevents overvoltage from entering the electrical infrastructure through the control panel, extending the lifespan of the equipment and avoiding costly damage and interruptions.
Surge protection helps prevent faults caused by power surges, ensuring continuous operation of industrial and commercial facilities. This is especially crucial for critical production and operational environments.
Surge protection reduces the risk of fires and personal injuries that surges might cause, ensuring workplace safety is a top priority.
In the long term, surge protection significantly reduces costs by lowering equipment replacement costs, reducing downtime losses, and cutting maintenance expenses.
Given these significant advantages, it is crucial to install surge protection devices in the control panel's distribution board. Surge protectors in the main distribution box can discharge most of the overcurrent, but relying solely on the main distribution box's protection may not fully protect the entire system, as residual energy could still reach sensitive electronic equipment. Therefore, terminal surge protectors must always be installed close to the equipment.
Installing a Type 1 SPD at the entry point of the electrical system as the first line of defense against voltage spikes and surges entering the electrical system is crucial. This primary protection measure effectively prevents surges from further spreading into the building's wiring system and eventually reaching sensitive electronic equipment.
The closer the distance between the surge protector and the main power source, the more effective the protection. Installing surge protectors at the entry point can significantly reduce the risk of voltage spikes affecting sensitive equipment.
However, it is impossible to discharge 100% of overvoltage at once, requiring the installation of Type 2 SPD close to the equipment for precise protection of sensitive equipment.

The faster the response of the surge protector to transient events, the better it can transfer excess energy away from the equipment. Installing surge protectors close to the equipment can shorten the distance a surge must travel before encountering the protection device.
Tailor-made Type 2 SPDs for specific circuits or devices are usually installed near the equipment for more precise protection of each circuit or device. These protective devices must be installed in series with the main surge protector to ensure effective protection at all levels during a surge event.
If a surge protector exceeds its capacity limit, it may be damaged due to a short circuit. Additional protective devices must be installed in series upstream of Type 2 SPD.
A short circuit occurs when a low-resistance connection is accidentally established between two conductors in the electrical system.Type 2 SPD must have a short-circuit current rating (ISCCR) at least equal to the short-circuit current at the connection point.
When the main distribution box uses a TN-C system, a maximum distance of 3m is required, and another 0+0.5 configuration lightning protector is needed.
The Difference Between Surge Protector and Leakage ProtectorOctober 25, 20211. The introduction of lightning surge protector and leakage protector(1) Lightning surge protectorLightning surge protector, also called lightning protection device, is an electronic equipment which ...view
Excellence in Quality: Product Applications of Photovoltaic DC Power Supply SPDJune 26, 2024Photovoltaic equipment is often exposed to outdoor environments over the long term, while the electronic components of inverters are highly sensitive to environmental conditions. Particularly on the D...view
What is type 2 surge protection?February 24, 2023What is type 2 surge protection?view
Surge Protector for Closed-Circuit Television SystemJune 26, 2024This article will introduce the importance and working principle of surge protector for CCTV that meet the high availability requirements of closed-circuit television systems.The Necessity of Surge Pr...view
The Difference Between a Lightning Arrester and a Surge ProtectorDecember 8, 20211. What's a surge protection device (SPD)?A surge or spike refers to a transient over-voltage that is far larger than the specified operating voltage. In essence, it is a strong impulse with the d...view
TVSS Launch | New Benchmark for Three-Phase Surge ProtectionOctober 10, 2025PART.01 What is TVSS?TVSS (Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor) is a core member of the surge protector (SPD) family that deals specifically with transient overvoltages. The HM400(200)B3N is designed f...view