1. What is electrical voltage? Potential difference measured between two points, which can represent both a source of energy (electromotive force) and can represent “lost” or stored energy (voltage drop). Its symbology is the capital V which means Volts.
2. What is electric current? It is the orderly movement of electric charge in a conducting medium. Electric current is generated by the effect of electric voltage applied in a closed circuit. In a circuit, the loads (machines, appliances, electronics) consume energy and this is transported by the electric current, so it is common to verify this value described in the equipment. It has the symbology made by the capital letter A, which means Ampère.

III. What is electrical power? It is the physical quantity that measures the work done in a given time interval. It is symbolized by the capital letter W, which stands for Watts. For example, the 5,500 W shower consumes 5,500 W in one hour.

1. What is an electrical surge? The electrical surge or transient overvoltage is a short period of time event, characterized by a sudden increase in voltage, current or both, followed by a slower decrease that propagates along the line or circuit, either in the electrical network or in the Data Network.
2. What is direct surge and indirect surge? Their difference is related to the point of impact of the beam in relation to the building. Direct surges are generated when lightning directly touches the building, power line, signal line or metallic pipes that enter this building. Indirect surges are characterized by lightning that falls close to a building, electrical line, signal line or metallic pipes that enter this building and that induce transient voltages on these metallic conductors.
3. What causes an electrical surge? Electrical surges are caused by switching electrical machines, atmospheric discharges or maneuvers in the network.

VII. What is a DPS? The Surge Protection Device (DPS) is responsible for limiting transient overvoltages and diverting surge currents. They are devices capable of protecting equipment against electrical surges.

VIII. What is the difference between transient overvoltage and temporary overvoltage? Transient overvoltage is a phenomenon that occurs at high frequency and has an abrupt increase in voltage in a short period of time, in the order of microseconds, commonly known as an electrical surge. Temporary overvoltage maintains the same frequency as the power grid and suffers a voltage rise that lasts for more than half a cycle of the fundamental frequency.

IX.What information should be considered when selecting/specifying a surge protector? The minimum information that must be observed when specifying the DPS are:

• Maximum continuous operation current (UC): It is the maximum effective voltage or continuous current that can be continuously applied to the SPD protection mode, being equal to the nominal voltage;
• Protection level (Up): parameter that characterizes the performance of the SPD for limiting the voltage between its terminals, which is selected from a list of preferred values. This value must always be less than the supportability of the equipment;
• Maximum current (Imax): indicates the crest value of a current through the SPD with an 8/20μs waveform, used to determine the maximum capacity of a Class II SPD;
• Nominal current (In): This current is used for the classification of the SPD for class II tests and also for the pre-conditioning of the SPD for tests classes I and II. The nominal current (In) is defined with a waveform of 8/20μs, which is also characteristic of currents induced by lightning strikes;
• Impulse current (Iimp) – The impulse test current Iimp is defined by the peak current value Ipeak, the load Q and the specific energy W/R. This current is defined with a 10/350μs waveform, which aims to reproduce the stresses resulting from the conduction of a portion of the current of a direct lightning strike.

1. What are the DPS classes? According to NBR IEC 61643-1, SPD can be classified into three classes: class I, II and III. Class I is intended for protection against conducted electrical surges, from direct lightning strikes, generally recommended for places with high exposure and/or that are equipped with SPDA – Atmospheric Discharge Protection System. Class II SPD is intended for protection against electrical surges caused by indirect lightning strikes, that is, they fall close to the building or power or data transmission lines. Class III SPD is a protective device that must be used in close proximity to protected equipment. Usually used as a protective complement or in places with low exposure.
2. What do the 8/20µs and 10/350µs waveforms mean? The 8/20µs standard characterizes the waveform induced in our electrical installations by an indirect lightning strike, while the 10/350µs standard is the waveform conducted to our installations caused by a direct connection to an atmospheric discharge.

XII. What is a DP and when do I need to use it? DP – Overcurrent Protection Device – also known as a Backup Device is an element, whether it is a fuse or circuit breaker, connected in series with the SPD, whose purpose is to disconnect the SPD from the power line at the end of the SPD’s useful life or to eliminate a short circuit that occurs due to failure of the SPD. Each CLAMPER SPD line – Front, VCL, SCL, DCL, among others – has a maximum short-circuit current value without DP. The DP must be used if the short circuit current (Icc) is greater than the maximum current value without DP of the SPD. The DP must have a rated current lower than or at most equal to the value indicated on the SPD technical sheet.

XIII. The LED on my Plug & Play protector no longer lights up, what should I do? Answer = The light signal indicates the useful life of your protection. If this signal does not come on, it indicates that the protector has reached the end of its useful life, requiring replacement of the protector.

XIV. Can I use Plug & Play line protectors on any electrical and electronic equipment? Plug & Use line protectors have a maximum current of 10 A. Thus, they can be used to protect any electronic device that consumes less than its maximum capacity.

1. Do the combined protectors of the Plug & Play line (CLAMPER Energia + Cable, CLAMPER Energia + Tel, CLAMPER Energia + Ethernet, CLAMPER Multi Protection 8) need to be connected to the electrical network to protect the data line? Yes. Because data line protection uses the grounding of the outlet, or grounded neutral, to drain the electrical surge.

XVI. What is SFLP technology? Signal Line Full Protection is an exclusive Clamper technology that guarantees data line protection even without the presence of a grounding conductor. This technology is available for the combined protectors of the Plug and Use Clamper line, which are: CLAMPER Energy + Cable, CLAMPER Energy + Tel, CLAMPER Energy + Ethernet, CLAMPER Energy + Ethernet PoE, CLAMPER Multi Protection 8.

XVII. What is the maximum power of the Plug & Use line protectors? Plug & Use line protectors have a maximum power of 1270 W when connected to 127 V networks, or 2200 W when connected to 220 V networks.

XVIII. Do I run the risk of losing a TV, internet or telephone signal using Clamper protectors? No. Clamper’s protectors have been designed and tested to ensure that there is no interference when used for data line protection.

XIX. Even if the residence does not have grounding, can I use the Plug & Use line protectors? Yes. In the absence of a ground conductor, the protector will drain the electrical surge through the neutral conductor.

1. What is the maximum speed supported by CLAMPER Energia + Ethernet and CLAMPER Energia + Ethernet PoE protectors? Clamper protectors for Ethernet line protection operate at a maximum speed of 10 / 100 Base-T.

XXI. My outlet has an old standard, can I use a standards converter before connecting the protector? For these situations, Clamper indicates the use of the iCLAMPERr Pocket X protector, which, in addition to providing protection against electrical surges, is a standard converter according to your needs.

XXII. Are Clamper’s Plug & Play protectors bivolt? Yes, and they can be used in environments with or without grounding.

XXIII. Does the external lightning rod (SPDA) protect electronic equipment against the effects of lightning? The external lightning rod (SPDA) does not protect the equipment against the effects of atmospheric discharges. Its purpose is to protect the building and, indirectly, the people in it. Therefore, to protect your electrical and electronic equipment against the effects of lightning, it is necessary to install DPS (Surge Protection Devices).

XXIV. What are the functions of the DPS? Answer = SPD (Surge Protection Device) protect electronics against transient overvoltages (surges) caused by the effects of direct and indirect lightning strikes, by maneuvers such as turning the power grid on and off or even by “faults” in other power systems. higher voltage. Its use is required by Technical Standards, Brazilian and other countries.

XXV. Even if my house has a circuit breaker and DR in the electrical panel, do I need to install the DPS? Answer = SPD is the only one (among all those mentioned) that has the function (and capacity) to protect electronics against transient overvoltages (surges). Its use is required by Technical Standards, Brazilian and other countries. Failure to use DPS constitutes a calculated and assumed risk from a material point of view. Under no circumstances can protection be waived if these consequences could result in a direct or indirect risk to the safety and health of people.

1. What are EMI/RFI noises? EMI (electromagnetic interference) and RFI (radio-frequency interference) noise are distortions present in the electrical network that reduce the quality of energy, affecting sensitive equipment such as radios, speakers, monitoring equipment, among others.
2. What is SFLP technology? The SFLP (Signal Line Full Protection) is a technology patented by CLAMPER and used in SPDs that provide protection to electrical and electronic equipment connected simultaneously to the power and data lines. This technology guarantees the protection of the signal lines even without the presence of the grounding conductor.

III. Can I use Plug & Use line protectors to protect the electrical part of any electrical and electronic equipment? The configuration and protection elements used in the Plug & Use line give the SPD versatility, making it possible to install it in any equipment that is compatible with the SPD’s power supply capacity.

1. The LED on my Plug & Play protector no longer lights up, what should I do? The light signaling, contained in the SPD of the Plug & Use line, is evidence that the SPD is in perfect working order and the electrical and electronic equipment connected to the SPD are protected. If the signal goes off, it means that the SPD must be replaced immediately, as it has reached the end of its useful life.
2. Even if my residence does not have a grounding conductor, can I use the Plug & Use line protectors? Yes, Plug & Play line protectors can be connected to power systems with or without a ground conductor. This facility is possible due to the complete protection circuit contained in the SPDs.

iCLAMPER Pocket 

1. What is the difference between the Pocket 2P and Pocket 3P protector? Both guards provide the same level of protection to the protected equipment. The Pocket 3P, as it has the third pin – grounding conductor – has protection elements that conduct surge currents to the grounding system, thus creating a longer life expectancy.
2. Can the Pocket protector be used in 127 V or 220 V electrical power systems? Yes, the protector is prepared to protect the power input port from electronic equipment connected to the 127 V or 220 V network, with this voltage selection being made automatically by the DPS.

III. Does the Pocket protector have overload protection? Yes, the Pocket has a fuse internally that is capable of disconnecting the SPD from the power grid if there is an overload caused by the electronics, and this fuse is irreplaceable.

1. Is the DPS Pocket capable of mitigating electrical surges from direct lightning strikes? No, if there is a risk of direct discharges, the need to install SPD class I and/or II must be studied. The iCLAMPER Pocket is a class III SPD, designed to provide fine protection to the power input port of electrical and electronic equipment against induced electrical surges from indirect atmospheric discharges or maneuvers.

iCLAMPER Energy 3

1. Does the iCLAMPER Energia 3 protector have overload protection? Yes, the internal fuse contained in the iCLAMPER Energia 3 is capable of disconnecting the SPD from the power grid if there is an overload caused by the electronics, and this fuse is irreplaceable.

II .What is the maximum power that can be connected to iCLAMPER Energia 3? The iCLAMPER Energia 3 input socket standard is 10 A. Therefore, it supports a maximum power of 1270 W when connected to a 127 V socket and a maximum power of 2200 W when connected to a 220 V socket.

iCLAMPER Energy 5 

1. Does iCLAMPER Energia 5 have a surge protector? Yes, Energia 5 is equipped with a line filter with high attenuation power for electromagnetic and radio frequency noise (EMI and RFI). These noises reduce the quality of energy and may cause malfunctions or reduce the useful life of equipment.
2. Does the iCLAMPER energy protector 5 interrupt the power supply after reaching the end of its useful life? Yes, when the lifespan indicator light goes out, the protector interrupts the circulation of energy in its output sockets.

iCLAMPER Energy 8 

1. Does iCLAMPER Energia 8 interrupt the power supply when reaching end of life? Yes, the end of life of the protector is indicated when the active protection LED goes out and the protector stops the circulation of energy in its output sockets.
2. If I use the iCLAMPER Cable module to protect my cable TV decoder, do I necessarily need to protect the decoder’s power input? Yes, it is essential that the power input of the TV decoder be connected to the same protector that is being used to protect the data cable. Also, for comprehensive protection, it is important that all other devices connected to the decoder are protected by the same protector. In the event of an electrical surge, the protector will act by limiting the surge voltage and equipotentializing all electrical and electronic devices connected to it.

accessory modules 

1. Can I connect the iCLAMPER Cable and iCLAMPER Tel modules directly to the wall outlet? CLAMPER does not recommend using the module connected directly to the power outlet, as there is no guarantee of the quality of the connection of the module to the outlet, thus incurring reduced or inactivated protection. The modules were developed to make a direct connection to a CLAMPER protector – iCLAMPER Energia 3, iCLAMPER Energia 8 – and provide flow of surge currents to the grounding conductor and, if there is no grounding conductor, to the live conductors, phase or neutral.

1. What is the protection element used in the CLAMPER Front line? The CLAMPER Front line has a varistor as an element of protection against electrical surges, which presents an excellent cost benefit. Capable of operating at currents of up to 45 kA in the waveform 8/20µs with speed less than 25ns.
2. What material is the housing of the CLAMPER Front made of? The CLAMPER Front is made of plastic material with characteristics of non-propagation and self-extinguishing fire.

III. How should I install DPS? The SPD must be installed in parallel with the load, it can be inserted between live conductors or live conductors and earth conductor. Below is an illustration, flowchart type, which can be used as an auxiliary source of information. It is important that NBR 5410 is used to specify the SPD.

1. Does the CLAMPER Front have a light signal indicating its useful life? No, the SPDs of the CLAMPER Front line, have service life signaling made by a flag that, in normal use, is green and in case of end of life, it is red. In addition to the local service life signaling, made by a flag, it is also possible, depending on the CLAMPER Front model, to use the remote signaling (SR), made by a dry contact, free of electrical potential.
2. Does CLAMPER Front have polarity? The CLAMPER Front device does not have polarity, although its center plug cannot be reversed. The N/PE and L markings serve to assist the installer when assembling, during installation, in electrical panels. Internally, the protective device does not have polarity and, if necessary, the connections can be reversed, always keeping the phase in one terminal and neutral/earth in the other.
3. Can I use a CLAMPER Front plug other than the original factory plug? Changing the current value in the plug of the CLAMPER Front device is allowed as long as the voltage is the same used in the previous device. Only plugs with voltages compatible with the base can be used.

VII.Do I need to replace the CLAMPER Front after a lightning strike? The CLAMPER Front must only be replaced if it reaches the end of its useful life. To identify the useful life of the protector, the local signage present on the device must be observed.

VIII.Can I use a Uc DPS of 275 Vac instead of the Uc DPS of 175 Vac? The Uc value is the maximum continuous operation voltage of the SPD, that is, the 275Vac CLAMPER Front can operate in a 220/127Vac network without compatibility problems. However, it is recommended that the SPD be specified with a Uc value greater than the phase/phase voltage value, this act ensures that, in case of problems arising from the network where the SPD can be exposed to phase/phase values, it will not be damaged by temporary overvoltage.

1. When will I need to use a backup device when installing CLAMPER Front? The use of backup devices is directly linked to the value of presumed short circuit current (Icc) at the SPD installation point. The CLAMPER Front has an internal switch that, in the event of the end of its useful life, performs the safe disconnection of the SPD from the power line in places where the Icc is less than 5 kA.
2. When does the CLAMPER Front trip the main circuit breaker? Electrical surges predominantly occur in a characteristic time of microseconds and the CLAMPER Front line has a typical response time of less than 25ns, these values ​​are less than the operating time of the circuit breakers, which does not configure, in normal use environments, the disconnection of the circuit breaker when the DPS acts protecting electronic equipment.
3. Does the electrical circuit load interfere with the dimensioning of the CLAMPER Front? The CLAMPER Front is installed in parallel with the system equipment and for this reason the electrical circuit load does not interfere with its dimensioning, however, it is worth mentioning that, in installation locations where the presumed short circuit current (Icc) is higher than the 5 kA if it is necessary to install a backup device – gL/gG fuse or curve C circuit breaker – in series with the SPD.

XII. Is it necessary to reset the CLAMPER Front when it trips? No, the technology used in the CLAMPER Front causes it to act against the electrical surge and automatically return to the normal operating state, thus eliminating the need for intervention.

1. What is the protection element used in the SCL SPD line? The SCL line has protection made up of a Spark Gap spark gap. This technology gives the SCL high capacity to drain electrical surge currents in the 10/350µs waveform, that is, direct surges.
2. Does the SCL have service life signs?
   The SCL line does not have service life signs. Values ​​applied as the minimum capacity of class I SPDs, according to NBR 5410, are 12.5 kA. This value was identified taking into account a lightning strike of 100 kA connecting directly to a medium voltage line. The current is divided with 50% flowing to both sides of the conductor. The 50% that went through a transformer, from medium voltage to low voltage, connected to this line will be divided into 4 equal parts, 3 phases and a neutral. Taking the inverse of this reasoning, if the capacity of the SCL, which is 60 kA, when multiplied by 4 and added to the other 50% of the discharge, results in the value of 480 kA. Currently, records of magnitudes of lightning currents do not exceed 400 kA, which makes the SCL a protection with an extremely long useful life,

III. Can the SCL be used on phase or neutral conductors? The technology used in the SCL is versatile and opens up the possibility of being used in the protection of phase or neutral conductors.

1. Since the SCL is a high-capacity SPD installed at the building’s energy entry point, is it necessary to install any other SPD downstream (after) the SCL? For example, DPS CLAMPER Front or surge protector. Yes. Since in addition to the problems generated by direct lightning strikes, it is possible that indirect lightning strikes, electromagnetic fields induce electrical surges in the installation after the SCL protection. Another situation that must be observed is the possibility of input/output data lines in the building that must also be protected.

1. What is the protection element used in the GCL SPD line? The gas spark gap (GTD – Gas Tube Discharger) is the protection element used in the SPD of the GCL line. This technology is capable of draining surge currents of up to 100 kA (100,000 amperes) with actuation speeds of less than 100ns.

II. Can I use the GCL on conductors with electrical potential, that is, phase conductors? The SPD GCL is a device developed for installation in conductors that do not have electrical potential or that has a reduced potential, for example, the neutral conductor or data conductors. The electrical potential of the phase is capable of keeping the SPD conducting after an electrical surge, which could lead the SPD to the end of its useful life.

1. What is the technology used as a protection element in the SPD CLAMPER of the DCL line? The SPD CLAMPER of the DCL line has SAD technology – Silicon Avalanche Diode –, which is characterized by low response time, in the order of 1ps and low residual voltage.

II. What is the estimated lifetime of the DPS DCL? As it is a SPD with semiconductor-based technology, if its maximum values ​​are not exceeded, it is considered that the SPD DCL has an unlimited lifetime.