Surge Protection Lowers Alternative Energy Prices

Make no mistake about it, the debate over alternative energy is about money and not about climate change. The fossil fuel industry supports energy production methods that utilize their products to produce power, and they are threatened by any production method that does not. For this reason, a negative ad campaign has been going on for many years in an attempt to suppress the evolution of technology that could improve the alternative power production industry. These include muddying the waters with discussions about the actual damage caused by burning fossil fuels in an attempt to justify it through lower costs. The industry creates a debate about the amount of damage that is acceptable in order to pay a lower price. This argument will be rendered meaningless if the prices of alternative energy production can be driven down past fossil fuels, so attempts are made to reduce the funding of technology that can result in this happening. Ultimately the fossil fuel industry will lose this battle, due to the fact that areas of technological advancement that are outside of the actual industry are helping to drive prices down.

The surge protection technology market is helping to dramatically reduce the costs of alternative energy production. This is being accomplished through the evolution of more technologically advanced surge protection devices that can not only provide better protection but also remain active during and after a surge incident. The costs of alternative energy production are found primarily in the repair and replacement of equipment used in the process, due to the fact that the fuel is free. Because of the exposed nature of solar panels and wind towers, they are targets for lightning strikes, which produce damage at the strike point as well as surge related damage to attached components. While there is little more that can be done to reduce the actual instances of lightning strike and the damage to the strike points themselves, large amounts of cost can be saved through the reduction of downstream damage to components as a result of the subsequent power surge. Lightning strikes produce a massive surge that travels along cables and lines, overwhelming sensitive equipment that is attached both inside and outside the structure. This chain-effect can result in the damage to equipment large distances away from the point of strike, and increase the damage costs as as result. Through the integration of more robust and technologically advanced surge protection devices within these systems and along cables, the damage downstream can be minimized resulting in greater efficiency and savings through extension of equipment life. Through the integration of technologically advanced surge protection devices that are "always on" and do not require resetting, systems of energy production can remain online for longer time frames during production times when there is wind and sun available, resulting in energy surpluses that previously were impossible. All of these advancements will eventually result in alternative energy being both cleaner and cheaper, and public support will always go to the cheaper product.

Public support for alternative energy production methods is increasing every year, and eventually they will be the standard and not the alternative. Surge protection technology is pushing this forward even if the fossil fuel industry is attempting to stand in the way.

Portions of this article were researched using information found on

https://www.raycap.com/surge-protection/

Lightning Protection

Protection against lightning comes in a few distinct forms, generally recognized as lightning rods and surge protection devices. The lightning rod is a very simple concept, that lightning is drawn away from structures that have value and to a controlled place where it can be grounded. This is done by using a metal rod that is placed in a position that is higher than the surrounding structures. Surge protection devices are more complicated, functioning as a stop gap once a power surge is detected, thus not allowing that electricity to flow past it to the point of contact with equipment that may be damaged. Due to the fact that computerized equipment cannot withstand more than a specific electrical flow level without having the circuitry damaged, the only valid method of protection is to completely cut the flow of that electricity if it goes over a certain safe level. This is done by the surge protection device being set to instantly create a gap in flow if any excess is detected, which will shut systems down in order to protect them. While the system components are protected from damage, the system itself enters a state where it is no longer producing or functioning until restoration of the gap is established.

Modern surge protection devices have greater ability to both withstand the damage caused by the surge themselves as well as keeping systems online after a surge incident happens. This is accomplished through the technological aspects of the devices themselves, essentially using more evolved technology than a simple gapping system. Because they are no longer mechanical in this fashion, they themselves do not need to be reset the way they once did, and instead will return to their functional state once the excess electrical flow has ceased. This evolution allows us to both protect investment in the field while also keeping systems functioning longer. With regards to systems like telecommunications where system outages can create communication difficulties during emergency situations and power production where uptime is the deciding factor between profitability and losses, the introduction and installation of the most advanced surge protection systems available is moving the world forward. Through more evolved surge protection, we are able to increase productivity in nearly any industry that is exposed to electrical surges, as well as keeping critical systems functioning that we rely upon every day.

Surge protection devices are not the simple surge strips that you have in your home any more, and are now technological wonders in their own right. In many cases, the surge protection device itself may be as technologically advanced as the equipment it is protecting.

The Evolution Of Surge Protection

Many people do not think about the devices that act in the background to protect us or our assets every day. Surge protection devices are one of those devices that simply exist in the background quietly doing nothing for the majority of the time they are in use. Their sole purpose is to act in the case of a power surge that would allow more electricity than a device can handle to flow across it. Computers and other data processing equipment utilizes circuitry that can easily be damaged by an overload of electricity in the form of a power surge. There are small types of damage that happen each time a small surge is allowed to contact circuits, like switching on and off, and there are larger types of damage that occur when a large scale surge is allowed through. The job of the surge protection device is to sit dormant on the line that the electricity is flowing until the time when that electrical flow exceeds a level that is safe for the attached equipment. At that point, the surge protection device instantly creates a gap that the electricity cannot flow across, effectively cutting power to everything beyond it. Any attached system that relies upon that power will be shut down until which time the gap within the surge protection device is closed or restored, and power is once again allowed to flow across it.

As surge protection devices evolve, we find them being able to be reset easier so as to restore system functionality with less time and effort, and we find them being made of more robust materials that allow them to be more effective by not being destroyed in the process of doing their job. In many cases, the switch that is triggered that creates the gap must be replugged in order to restore the electrical flow, which takes man hours and labor to accomplish. The new and more technologically advanced devices not only have the ability to be reset easier, but they can actually continue to function even after they have cut the power flow and then it has returned to normal. This is important because a hazard of surge protection involves multiple surges or lightning strikes that leave systems vulnerable after the first protective measure is taken. The multiple-strike possibility always exists for equipment in the field, and in more basic surge protection systems once the system has been triggered it is no longer functional. This flaw cost millions of dollars every year in damage to equipment, and ultimately is being improved upon through the technological evolution of the surge protection devices themselves. Combined with more robust housings and components and we have surge protection devices that are capable of doing their job faster and more effectively than ever before, thus saving millions of dollars in damage and also keeping productivity at all time highs.

Can Industrial Surge Protection Stop Climate Change?

Nobody denies that climate change is happening. The common question that is asked of people is if they believe climate change is real, and these types of questions are generally geared towards a political agenda. The question is not if it is real or not, but instead is if man has something to do with it. Any quick analysis of weather patterns and ocean temperatures can prove that the earth is getting warmer, but the opposing sides disagree on the cause of this warming. Advocates of fossil fuels argue that this is a natural pattern of a planet, getting hotter and colder due to natural circumstances. Advocates of alternative energy sources argue that manmade pollution is contributing to these changes, and accelerating the rate of global warming.These tow sides actually do agree on something, that pollution is created by burning fossil fuels. Nobody denies the fact that pollution is created by this process, but the differences come based on one's belief of the levels of damage that are caused by that pollution. Advocates for fossil fuels argue that the damage that is produced to the environment is minimal enough that the costs savings over alternative energy production is worth it. Those arguing for alternative energy production say it is not. Both sides agree there is damage and both sides are weighing the cost in comparison to the damage amount, but what if the alternative energy production methods also cost less?

The main cost basis in alternative energy production is equipment, and the repair or replacement of that equipment. Wind and solar systems both use sophisticated computer equipment to create and harness the electricity, and because these installations need to be in relatively remote and unobstructed spaces they are targets for lighting strikes. This simple weakness means that periodic lightning strike damage must be factored into the business plans and ultimately passed off to the consumer in order to remain profitable, and the damage that has been observed with these regular occurrences of lightning strike allows for estimates and projections of cost to be made. Even though the wind and sun are free, the costs associated with repair and replacement of this equipment ends up being higher than fossil fuel production. In addition, the systems being knocked offline during times when the wind and sun are present create inefficiencies in production that results in the methods not being able to produce enough electricity to satisfy demands. If lightning strikes could be eliminated, these issues would be solved surpluses of electricity could be made, all the while driving costs down and resulting in lower electricity bills for consumers.

Lighting strikes cannot be eliminated, however the damage that they do can be significantly reduced. The costs pile up as a result not of the strike, but of the surge. The lightning strike to a wind tower or solar panel will damage that point, but the real costs are found in damage caused by the surge that moves from that point and through connected equipment. The power surges can destroy circuitry in equipment that is nowhere near the strike point, and ultimately knock the system offline during peak hours with totally free fuel sources. The integration of advanced surge protection devices into these systems can reduce damage, and the development of more advanced and robust surge protection devices can protect even further. As a result, equipment can be used for longer than predicted periods of time before needing to be repaired or replaced, and the systems can stay online for longer periods creating more of a surplus of electricity. The result is electricity generated by systems that produce no pollution, as well as being cheaper and providing enough to power entire communities without backup sources. The by product of saving money and reducing costs is the reduction of global warming, because all consumers will favor the cheaper methods of production, especially if theya re cleaner as well.

Cheap And Clean Power

It has long been understood that green energy production does not have the same environmental toll that fossil fuels do.  Green energy technology relies upon the wind or sun to turn the turbines that produce electricity, as opposed to burning something to achieve the same goal.  One results in pollution and the other does not, but the inefficiencies of the green energy production systems make them less viable as a source of power to the masses than fossil fuels do, at least at the current time.  If the green energy systems can be improved to be more efficient so as to produce enough power to suffice in major cities, and do it at a price that is cheaper than fossil fuels, then there is no reason to keep the antiquated systems in place.  That day is quickly approaching through the use of more advanced surge protection devices.

Many people are unaware where the costs of green energy production come from.  Because you are not paying for the fuel sources themselves, why does it cost more to produce power using wind and solar? The answers come in the form of damages to the equipment involved in the process, and the outages that happen as a result of that damage.  If a component is damaged and the system goes offline during a period when the sun is shining or wind is blowing, the system is not producing excess electricity that costs no more than if the system was dormant.  Efficiency is key when producing power, and costs are reduced by excesses of power being produced.  The systems that are the most efficient can also power larger communities without backup systems being necessary, so keeping the systems functioning longer is a key to cost reduction.  The other key is the minimization of damage to components in the field.  This generally is found in the damages that occur by surges after a lightning strike.  The damage at the strike point is minimal compared to the damage that happens downstream as a result of the power surge.  Sensitive equipment is overwhelmed and damaged if it is connected by power or data transfer lines, so the method of reducing these damage costs involves the integration of better surge protection devices.  Raycap makes not only the top level technological devices on the market, but also a unique product that does not need resetting after a surge.  This reduces the amount of time that is necessary to get a system back online after a surge, and improves the efficiency that is key to the process.

Through the integration of better surge protection devices and systems, we can reduce the production costs of green energy to a lower point than fossil fuels, which will create a cheaper and cleaner product.  This will have positive consequences for the entire planet, as well as your pocket book.

Environmental Benefits Of Cheaper Power

When people turn on their lights in their home, they don't think too much about it.  They flip the switch and electricity flows to the lights, but that electricity must be manufactured using one of a number of processes.  The product is exactly the same, but how that product is created has large differences.  One way is through the burning of fossil fuels in order to turn turbines that generate the electricity.  These fossil fuels create pollution as a by product that ultimately hurts the environment, and there is nearly nobody on the planet that is going to argue that they want more pollution.  The reason that this is the primary method of production is that it is ultimately cheaper to consumers than the green methods that do not do environmental damage.  The question that many people cannot understand is why a source of production that uses a free power source would cost more.  The answer is found in lightning strikes.

Green energy production costs more than fossil fuel production because the components of the process are easily damaged in the field, and need replacement.  These damages also cause systems to go offline during the times when the wind or sun is available, ultimately reducing the amount of power that is produced for free.  By keeping damages to a minimum and systems online longer, we can reduce the costs that consumers must pay for their electricity to below the costs of fossil fuels, and this involves surge protection.  The main factor that causes damage to industrial components is lightning strikes, but the damage that occurs at the strike point itself is not the issue.  The power surge that follows the strike is coupled into data transfer lines and power cables, and ultimately travels easily from component to component in the chain.  A single lightning strike can produce surge related damages to equipment that is not even close to the strike point, and ultimately build the cost of the strike to a huge amount.  Through the use of integrated surge protection devices in a redundant manner, appropriately installed at critical junction points and along wires, the surges can be brought to a minimum and controlled more effectively.  This allows for damage to be reduced and costs that need to be paid by the consumer to be lower.  The newest generation of surge protection devices from Raycap also feature an "always on" capability, which ultimately means they do not need to be restored to functionality after they perform their duty.  This keeps systems online for longer periods of time, and generates more surplus electricity while the sun and wind are available.  It is this type of improvement to the systems that will ultimately achieve the goals of reducing costs below that of fossil fuel production, which will result in a cleaner and cheaper product.

Electrical Surge Protection For Businesses

Businesses need surge protection, which comes in a variety of forms.  The reason that surge protection is critical is that computerized and circuit driven equipment can handle a specific level of electrical flow before damage occurs, and this flow can easily be transmitted by the associated power lines that feed the equipment on a moment to moment basis.  The power capabilities of power lines themselves is far higher than the equipment that they supply, due to the fact that replacing actual damaged wiring or cables would be far more difficult than overloaded and damaged equipment.  If the equipment itself is the weak link and place where power fluctuations will cause the most damage, a specialized device must be installed that will act to cut the supply before that level is reached in order to protect it.  This is the very nature of surge protection devices, tasked only with not letting electrical levels pass a certain threshold without cutting the supply and either diverting it or dead ending it.  The surge protection device must act as a gatekeeper to all equipment connected on its other side, and continually monitoring the flow to assure that the safe zone is never exceeded.

In an industrial setting, literally millions of dollars worth of equipment can be chained together within a line that can be exploited by a power surge.  Even if the equipment itself does not share a uniform power line, the data transfer cables can act as the channel through which electricity can flow.  Literally anything that can conduct electricity that is connecting two pieces of equipment can allow for the electrical flow to pass from one to another, creating a nightmare situation when large scale transients occur.  A lightning strike to a structure couples a power surge into one piece of equipment which then allows that flow to continue along all connected lines from component to component.  Where damage would typically be isolated to the point of strike, we instead see damage happening huge distances away, and sometimes not following the typical parallel lines due to cable routing.  A single instance of surge can easily damage all components that are connected or communicating, causing large amounts of loss and shutting down systems until they can be repaired.  The losses are compounded by outages and maintenance fees, ultimately resulting in a situation where prevention is the only line of defense.  Preventing lightning strikes and power fluctuations is nearly impossible, making the most valid form of protection the surge protection device that is integrated into the potential power flow area, both within lines and at critical junctions like boxes and connections.

Raycap manufactures the most technically advanced surge protection devices on earth, not only utilizing the finest and most robust components in their makeup but also using a revolutionary technology that allows for an "always on" status.  Most SPDs are either destroyed by the surge they protect against, or need to be reset or replugged after an event.  This exposes the system to subsequent surges, or extends the time frames that it takes for resetting of the system itself.  Raycap devices prevent the surge then immediately return to their active status without needing to be reset, cutting down maintenance time and preventing the multiple strike scenario.  If your business has equipement at risk of power surge damage or lightning strike, contact Raycap to find out more about their technology.