The problem of overvoltages in electrical installations is much more common than you might think. Until now, much has not been said about this as traditional lighting systems are not as sensitive to them as LED technology. Find out more about it and protect your investment.

Overvoltages in LED lighting

Diodes on tapes and in lamps are semiconductor elements that are prone to overvoltage, i.e. to a sudden increase in voltage in the network. Depending on the level of growth and its duration, overvoltage will damage the LEDs or reduce their service life.

The consequences of overvoltages are often not immediately apparent. In the event of a slight but regular increase in voltage, the LED lighting will deteriorate gradually. Complete destruction may take several days or weeks after the first growth.

LED installation must be protected against surges, even if they appear not to be present. In practice, the voltage increase often lasts up to several dozen microseconds, which makes its detection without appropriate measuring equipment impossible..

There is also no one and always effective way to protect LED lamps. It is worth approaching the issue of industrial LED lighting protection comprehensively and apply at least a few solutions that will significantly increase the safety of the entire installation.

Creation of LED lighting installation

The basic way to protect industrial LED lamps against surges is to create a well-thought-out installation. Preparation of the plan should be entrusted to a specialist who will prevent such serious, but still appearing mistakes, such as:

• installation of power cables with a too narrow cross-section,
• installation of too long power cables,
• incorrect earth connection,
• connection of LED lighting to a toroidal transformer,
• poorly planned cabling topology.

Additionally, at the stage of planning the LED lighting installation, it is worth considering the protection of LEDs against high temperature and electrostatic discharge. Both of these factors also contribute to the surge.

Overvoltage limiters - effective protection of LED lamps

The basic way to protect an existing LED installation are overvoltage limiters, i.e. devices connected to the electrical installation. The arrester, which is in the way of the overvoltage impulse, lowers its height to a level safe for the installation and devices connected to it. Overvoltage limiters are classified into types 1, 2, 3 and 4, but type 1 is only used by energy suppliers. In the context of protecting LED lamps against overvoltage, attention should only be paid to types 2, 3 and 4.

The most effective way to protect lighting is to use the so-called three-stage surge protection system. It involves the use of 2nd, 3rd and 4th class limiters at various points in the electrical installation. A class 2 arrester protects against the strongest surges and is usually installed on the main switchboard. It reduces the impulse voltage to 2.5 kV. On the other hand, a type 3 arrester, also put on the switchgear, lowers the impulse below 1.5 kV. Type 2 and type 3 limiters are also available for sale.

It is worth emphasizing that class 2 and 3 protectors will protect the installation and most of the devices, but it will not be sufficient protection for LED lighting. To fully protect the diodes, it is necessary to use less frequently used type 4 arresters. Contrary to other types, the type 4 arrester is installed as close to the LED lamp as possible. Such a protector can be put on, among others in electrical boxes or immediately before lighting. In turn, the simplest, but often not very practical solution is to buy a strip with a type 4 arrester inside.

Replacement of overvoltage limiters

It is worth noting that all types of protectors are also damaged. This situation occurs, among others as a result of a large overvoltage. Although the limiter will stop a large increase in voltage and effectively protect the LED lighting installation, the device may be useless in the event of a subsequent overvoltage. Therefore, it is worth considering their regular replacement every 2 years.

Zasilacze i kontrolery

Another way to protect LED lighting against overvoltage is to use high-quality power supplies for LED installations. Effective and LED-protecting, the power supply has built-in surge protection. Although this solution will not protect the LEDs from a strong voltage surge, it will be perfect in the event of small interference. Of course, it is also worth paying attention to the control devices connected to the installation. It is good if they are also equipped with appropriate security.

Overloading the electric installation

Another factor that increases the safety of LED lamps is preventing the electrical circuit from being overloaded. Using too many devices on one circuit will result in automatic power cut. As a consequence, an overvoltage that may be dangerous for the LED lighting may appear.

Entrust the protection of LED installations to specialists

Overvoltage is a serious problem that can damage the LEDs or reduce their lifetime. Luckily, there are many ways you can limit your amounts yourself. Speech incl. about overvoltage strips with type 4 limiters, or about taking care not to overload the electric circuit. On the other hand, in order to obtain comprehensive protection against surges, it is necessary to cooperate with an experienced electrician.