Spike protection device for electronics and communication appliances

Abstract

Experience shows that most failures of electronic and communication equipment result from damage caused by external electrical disturbances in the form of overvoltage, undervoltage, surge, sag, spike, or voltage dropout
(blackout), the status of which is determined by the amplitude and duration of the disturbance. Spikes, the most damaging of all, appear at random intervals on power supply cables that lead to equipment damage. Different types of voltage sensitive components have been developed for the purpose of spike suppression. This work provides an effective spike suppression device (SSD), meant for single equipment protection, realized by utilizing the fast response characteristics of a Varistor, and combined with the high current sinking capabilities of a Gas discharge tube.