Surge Suppressors and Clamps

A tutorial paper with a review of the technologies available in the mid-eighties for surge protection of lowvoltage end-user equipment. The principles of operation are described for “crowbar devices” (now generally described under the standardized name of “voltage switching devices”) and for “voltage clamping devices: (now generally described under the standardized name of “voltage limiting devices”). Measurement techniques are also described, in particular the parasitic effect of inducing an addition voltage into the loop formed bt a differential probe connection.