Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Electrical Transient?
An electrical transient is a sudden, short-term voltage variation on AC power lines or data lines. An electrical transient can provide a voltage that is hundreds or thousands of volts over the normal operating voltage of the circuit involved. Lightning is often recognized as a major source of electrical transients. Other common sources of transient events are relays, solenoids, electric motors, generators, and high current loads. However, transients can be induced by any sort of RF noise, either electrostatic or electromagnetic, when power lines or other cabling act as receiving antennas and transient conductors.
Why use Transient Suppressors?
The reliable operation of computer systems, microprocessor-based equipment, and sensitive medical equipment depends upon the availability of clean or relatively noise free AC power. An electrical surge can cause damage to this sensitive and expensive equipment. If the electrical transient does not cause any damage, it may cause a "glitch" where the equipment can experience a variety of errors from interruptions or loss of vital data transmissions to complete system shutdown. It takes only one transient to cause microprocessor-based products to produce incorrect data, and the effect may go unnoticed for days or until the system is restarted.
What makes the Amber Industries models different from other models?
Amber Industries has developed both parallel and series type transient suppressors. Our parallel devices clamp the transient voltage to safe levels by shunting the transient current to the opposite line or common ground. Our series transient suppressors track through the full 360 degrees of the incoming AC sinusoid and filter and clamp as necessary to the opposite line or common ground. A fast rise or fall time causes the Amber transient suppressor to either block the spike, or fill the notch without any interruption of power to the equipment. Unlike our competitors's models, which suppress a transient above the AC voltage, Amber units start to operate within 1 volt variation both above and below the sine wave.
Many of the Amber units are UL 1449 Recognized for the USA, UL Recognized for Canada, and CE Certified for Europe. They also meet IEEE-587 A & B. They have nanosecond response times. Plus they have convenient mounting. Amber Industries also offers custom designed units and modifications of current units.
