This course reviews the overvoltage situations that may occur in residential applications and methods to protect consumer equipment from overvoltages.  The principle cause of overvoltages in a residential environment is lightning surges.  Lightning surges are covered in detail as well as the design and operation of transient voltage surge suppressors (TVSS).  Relevant standards are reviewed as well as the importance of grounding to proper overvoltage protection.

The course begins with an overview of lightning, how lightning occurs, and an example of a typical lightning event.  From this beginning, transients are explained and how they impact residential equipment.

Next, transient voltage surge suppression devices are discussed, including the characteristics of TVSS devices and the types of TVSS devices available.

The standards that are applicable to TVSS equipment, as well as the equipment it is protecting, are reviewed including IEEE C62.41 and the “CBEMA curve”.

Finally, a typical residential application is reviewed along with how the home might be protected.

After taking this course the learner should,

• Understand the lightning flash mechanism
• Understand the nature of transients
• Understand transient voltage waveforms
• Know how TVSS equipment is designed
• Learn the advantages of a hybrid TVSS
• Understand basic operation of a TVSS
• Know the various industry standards appropriate to TVSS equipment
• Know the environmental categories for TVSS applications
• How to design overvoltage protection systems for residential applications