Testing transient voltage surge suppressors

It is pointed out that there is growing recognition that surge interference, due both to lightning and to switching transients, is a major cause of equipment malfunction and damage. As a result, the transient voltage surge suppressor has received increasing attention and use. However, its electrical environment-high currents and voltages-can make measurements of its performance difficult. Areas of concern include fixturing, grounds, differential measurements, probes, oscilloscopes, and powered surging. Also of interest are methods for checking the measuring setup for noise, common-mode rejection and fixturing to insure valid data. Finally, it is noted that adequate consideration for safety must underlie all surge test plans