Importance of Overvoltage Protection for Data Logging Equipments used in Solar Power Plants

Any set up without protection can render the whole data logging setup ineffective and therefore Installing it with proper over-voltage protection equipment is vital. In long term, it reduces potential downtime, data loss and as well as save you from costly maintenance.

Over-Voltage protections is a very complex concept and its always recommended to work with a specialist which can suggest you comprehensive protection plan for your specific site.

With this article TrackSo wish to compile the available information which can help its customers to start the journey of implementing proper protection ensuring reliable data communications at their solar power plants.These measures include giving due consideration to shielded cables, transient suppression diodes, ESD and surge tolerant transceivers, and signal per-emphasis.

What does Over-Voltage Damage?

Most data loggers and sensors are made from delicate silicon chips such as microprocessors and other integrated circuitry. Data Loggers can get easily damaged through these transient voltages along with power surges and spikes. These surges and spikes can either cause irreparable damage or cause small latent failures that erode device circuit and cause permanent damage over time.

These small latent failures are the most difficult failures to diagnose as it seems as if the electronics simply failed one day, while in reality the device was prone to continuous intermittent electricity surges and spikes, continually eroding its performance

Implementing proper grounding and protection techniques not only protects from damaging surges and spikes, but more importantly keeps a system from experiencing the ill effects of latent system failures.

How does such Surges reach Data loggers?

Voltage surges and spikes that damage the circuitry of data loggers and sensors travel through the easiest access point: cables that go into and out of the data logger. These cables can be the wires bringing in sensor signals or power supply or even Ethernet wires.

These power surges and spikes are most commonly caused by:

1. Lightning
2. Power Grid switching operations
3. Electrostatic discharge (ESD)