Surge - definition

An Overvoltage is a brief increase in voltage in an electrical or electronic circuit whose value exceeds the permissible rated level of the system in question. This phenomenon can be pulsed or momentary and poses a significant risk to the proper operation of equipment, possibly leading to damage insulation, overheating of components, failure of electronic components or complete destruction of the system.

The causes of overvoltage can be natural or technical. The most common include lightning, sudden load changes in the network, switching operations in installations high voltage, tripping of Inductive Components and power grid failures. Surges can propagate not only through power lines, but also through signal systems, earthing and common impedance components, making them difficult to predict and eliminate.

Due to their nature, surges are often classified according to duration, amplitude and source of origin. In electronic and digital circuits, even very short pulses of low energy can cause malfunctions or permanent damage. Therefore, various methods of protection are used, such as varistors, transil diodes, surge arresters, appropriate shielding of cables and the design of systems according to EMC principles.

In the design and operation of electrical and electronic systems, consideration of surge risk and effective protection against surges is one of the basic requirements for safety and reliability.

Transfer Multisort Elektronik (TME) is one of the world’s largest global distributors of electronic components, electrotechnical parts, workshop equipment, and industrial automation. The catalog includes over 1,500,000 products from 1,300 leading manufacturers. TME’s modern logistics centers in Łódź and Rzgów (Poland), with a combined area of over 40,000 m², ship nearly 6,000 packages daily to customers in more than 150 countries.

TME also invests in the development of knowledge and skills of young engineers and electronics enthusiasts through the TME Education project, and supports the tech community by organizing the TechMasterEvent series, promoting innovation and experience exchange.