Only brief remarks are made in this report on possible suppression methods. Papers included in Part 6

(Tutorials), Part 7 (Mitigation techniques) and Part 8 (Coordination of cascaded SPDs) provide information

on protection techniques prior to and after the emergence and widespread use of metal-oxide varistors.

Filename: Secondary Transients
GENERAL @ ELECTRIC 

General Electric Company 

Corporate Research and Development 

Schenectady, New York 

IIGINATING CORPORATE 

MPORENT Automation and Control Laboratory RESEARCH ANO DEVELOPHENI 

SCHENECfADI, N.V. 

TECHNICAL Wf ORMATlON 

SERIES 

IT~OR 

Martzloff, FD 

Transient overvoltages have been recorded in secondary systems for 

a period of four years, using recording oscilloscopes and surge counters. 

Conclusive evidence has been accumulated on the occurrence of 

surges at potentially damaging levels on 120 volts residential circuits. 

Less frequent and less severe surges were found on commercial and 

industrial circuits. 

This report is a summary of measurements made from 1963-1967 

and has been adapted from a 1967 internal report. An up-to-date 

bibliography is included. 

El WORDS 

surge 

SUBJECT 

transient overvoltages 

INFORMATION PREPARED FOR 

81CRD121 

OATE May 1981 

TLE 

Transient Overvoltages 

in Secondary Systems 

Additional Hard or Microfiche Copies 

Available From 

GE CLASS 1 

NO. PAGES 20 

Technical Information Exchange 

Bldg. 81 Room A1 33, Schenectady, N.Y., 12345 
2.2 Internally Generated Surges Investigation .......... 2 . 3 Externally Generated Surges .................. 2.3.1 Test Procedure ...................... 2 . 3.2 Analysis of Voltage Surge Data and Some 

Irnplic ations ......................... 2.4 Surge Suppression Experiment ................. 

IV . DISCUSSION OF THE TRANSIENT MEASUREMENTS .......... 1 . Distribution of Magnitudes ....................... 2 . Distribution of Surge Generating Appliances ............ 

V . EFFECTS OF TMNSIENT OVERVOLTAGES ON 

SEMICONDUCTORS ................................ 8 

VI . SUPPRESSION METHODS ............................ 9 

VII . REFERENCES .................................... 10 

VIII . ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................. 10 

IX . BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................. 19 
TRANSIENT OVERVOLTAGES IN SECONDARY SYSTEMS 

F. D. Martzloff 

I. INTRODUCTION 

The increasing use of semiconductors in consumer and commercial appli

cations has increased the risk of component failures due to transient overvolt

ages. This situation was recognized by the General Electric Company in the 

early sixties, and a program was initiated in 1962 for the purpose, among 

others, of recording transient overvoltages in low voltage systems in order 

to obtain factual information for an estimate of this risk. 

Transients were recorded with oscilloscopes at a numbe~of locations, in 

order to obtain data on representative waveshapes. These data were supplemented by a second project in which a large number of locations were monitored, using a fixed threshold surge counter especially developed for this 

program. 

This report combines a presentation of the new results with a review of 

earlier data, in order to summarize present knowledge on the occurrence of 

transient overvoltages in secondary systems, with references to related area

of effects on semiconductors and transient suppression. 

The cause of transients, the recording and the results are discussed, and 

conclusions based on statistical considerations are presented. 

11. CONCLUSIONS 

1. (a) Two major causes of transient overvoltages exist in residential 

secondary circuits: surges generated within the house by some device such a

relays, contactors, mercury switches, etc., and surges fed in from the pow

service entrance, primarily lightning- induced. 

(b) Commercial or industrial secondary systems are not subjected to t

internally generated surges found in residential circuits, as they are "stiffer" 

than the latter. 

2. Internally generated surges above 1200 volts are likely to occur at 

frequent intervals (one or more per day) in about 2. 5% of all U. S. households. 

3. Lightning-induced surges may occur at a rate of 0.1 to 0. 9 per household and per year. Statistical evidence in this case is not as firm as in the 

case of the internally generated surges. 

' 4. These surges can definitely cause failures in unprotected appliances, 

especially those containing semiconductors directly exposed to the line voltage

5. A number of commercially available devices offer various amounts of 

protection at various costs. The need for built-in protection versus no protec

or protection external to the appliance at the owner's expense is a subject of 
discussion rather than a hard fact, since it involves variable parameters such 

as nuisance costs, prestige, duration of warranties, etc., in addition to the 

simple probability of failure considerations. 

6. In spite of the impossibility of making definitive and all -encompassing 

conclusions, the author hopes that this report will increase the awareness of 

the occurrence of potentially damaging surge voltages on residential secondary 

circuits and promote a better anticipation of associated problems, which should 

ultimately increase the reliability of electronic products. 

111. TRANSIENT MEASUREMENTS IN SECONDARY CIRCUITS 

The measurement of transients was conducted over a period of three years; 

in 1962 and 1963 with oscilloscopes and in 1965 with surge counters designed 

and built in 1964. The objective of the oscilloscope measurements was to explore the characteristics (waveshape, magnitude) of surges, while the objective 

of the surge counter measurements was to establish a broad base for the statistical treatment of the results. 

1. Oscilloscope Measurements 

Table I shows an analysis of the surges recorded in terms of most severe, most frequent, and average number per hour at each of 23 locations. 

Briefly, the oscilloscopes are modified Tektronix 51 5 oscilloscopes where 

a nonpolarized sweep trigger is provided by the transient overvoltage occurring 

in the circuit being monitored. A 35 mm camera, with no shutter, continuously 

monitors the blanked-out screen until a surge triggers the logarithmic sweep, 

at which time the transient is displayed on the screen and recorded on the film, 

and the motor-driven camera advances one frame. 

This equipment, not without electronic and mechanical incidents, provided 

the means to monitor the voltage in homes and commercial buildings for a 

period of several days and thus establish patterns for transients recurring within 

this time period. 

Typical waveshapes (corresponding to severe cases for amplitude but typica

as far as shape is concerned) are shown in the oscillograms of Figs. 1, 2, and 

3. 

These oscilloscope measurements indicated that potentially damaging surge

can occur very frequently in some households, while other households were 

relatively free from frequent disturbances. In some cases, the occurrence of 

frequent surges was correlated with the operation of an appliance such as a 

furnace, refrigerator, etc. 

Measurements in larger secondary systems, i. e., commercial or industria

buildings, did not record frequent, internally generated surges similar to those 

found in households. Lower amplitude, less frequent occurrences were found, 

believed to be associated with switching surges or lightning-induced surges involving the complete local power grid. 
2. Recordings with Surge Counters 

The oscilloscope measurements clearly established the dual source of 

surges in households, internal or external. In order to evaluate the possible 

effect of these on a national scale, a program of designing and building about 

100 surge counters for installation in as many households as possible was 

initiated in 1964. These were installed late in 1964, and the readings monitored and analysed in 1965. 

2. 1 Test Plan 

The recording of household surges was divided into two separate periods, 

each with distinct objectives. A first recording period held in winter and early 

spring covered short periods at each of a large number of residences, in order 

to investigate the proportion of households subjected to frequent internally gener

ated surges. 

, A second recording period held in late spring and summer was organized at 

a reduced number of locations with longer periods, in order to investigate the 

frequency of lightning-induced surges at a number of specific locations. 

A related program was also carried on at two locations where frequent 

internally generated surges were occurring, to demonstrate the effectiveness 

of the suppression obtainable from a small Thyrector stackconnected at the 

outlets. 

The surge counter design has been described in a previously published 

paper. (l) It provides cumulative counting of surges in excess of 1200 V or 

2000 V for durations above 0.2 ps when plugged into the 120 V outlet. * 

Briefly, these recorders consist of a solenoid driven counter, with a 

storage capacitor discharged into the solenoid when triggered by a surge in exce

of a set threshold, of one polarity. The threshold level of the counter was set 

at 1200 volts for three quarters and at 2000 volts for one quarter of the counters

The storage capacitor was held charged by a high resistance rectifier power 

supply drawing power from the line being monitored. 

The choice of the 1200 volts and 2000 volts threshold levels was the result of data on the performance of semiconductors, especially diodes and 

SCR1s under transient inverse voltage. It seems that appliance circuits containing diodes or SCRts connected either directly or by low impedance components to the incoming 120 volt line may fail when the surges on this line 

exceed 1200 volts. On the other hand, a device with some degree of filtering, 

such as an input transformer, may require in the order of 2000 volts on the 

incoming line to pass on 1200 volts to the semiconductor(s) in the circuit. 

*These recorders were designed specifically for installation in 120 V outlets and 

have a relatively low input impedance. Therefore, they may load down a circuit if, for instance, installed on the load side of a switch. 
2. 2 lnt ernally Generated Surges Investigation 

This investigation was carried on with the cooperation of individual engineer

at 18 departments, who installed the counters in their homes and returned the 

records to the author for compilation. 

The recording period lasted from December 1964 to March 1965, corresponding to an expected minimum of lightning activity, and involved about 250 homes. 

Complete results are shown in Table 11. 

The results are summarized as follows: 

1. Six homes in a total of 250 homes are subjected to repetitive surges in 

the 1200 to 2000 volt range, which are most likely limited to each of the six, 

i. e. , not affecting adjacent houses. This represents a percentage of 2. 4% of 

the houses surveyed where potentially damaging repetitive surges can occur. 

The statistical validity of this percentage is discussed below. 

2. Three isolated random surges were recorded, associated with no known 

or suspected system disturbances. 

The recording results were analyzed by G. J. Hahn, who prepared the follow

ing discussion. 

Statistical Aspects of the Recording Results 

The data indicated 6 voltage surge situations in a total of 250 homes sampled

This indicates a rate of 2. 4% in the sample. One would expect that the true 

voltage surge rate in the population from which the random sample was taken 

would differ from the sample rate due to statistical variations. However, one 

may be 9970 confident that the voltage surge rate in the population is between 

0. 6'70 and 6. 3% and 9570 confident that the true proportion is between 0. 9% and 

5. 3%. 

Assuming now that more homes had been surveyed, one can wonder how muc

narrower the band would be. In response to this question, if we had observed 

12 voltage surges in 500 homes, the 9970 confidence interval would have been 1. 07

to 4. 870 and the 9570 interval would have been 1. 270 to 4. 27'0. Similarly, with 24 

voltage surges in a sample of 1000 the 99% confidence interval would have been 

1. 3% to 4. 07'0 and the 9570 confidence interval would have been 1. 57'0 to 3. 670. 

The above results refer to statistical variations only, and thus represent 

limits on the proportion of voltage surges in the population from which the sampl

was selected. Thus, they do not take into account any possible biases that might 

have been introduced by such factors as restrictions in selecting members of 

the sample (principally GE engineers in a number or designated locations) or the 

time of year (winter months). 

The statistical calculations are based on the well-known method of establishing confidence intervals for the binomial parameter using the Poisson 

approximation. Further details may be found in statistical 33 4, 
Discussion of the Results 

Within the limitation that the homes surveyed are assumed to be typical of 

all residential buildings where new solid state appliances are likely to be found, 

the ITo to 570 probability of repetitive surges is not negligible. That is, electronic appliances with a surge damage threshold below 1200 volts are likely to 

suffer in-warranty failures at a rate of 170 to 5% of sales. 

While the small number (6) of locations detected in this survey may appear 

to be small and thus intuitively unconvincing, there is a 99% level of confidence 

that the actual rate is 0. 6 to 670. * 

Continuing the data accumulation by increasing the number of homes surveyed will of course increase the validity of the conclusions, but not by a very 

large amount; for instance, if the same percentage (2. 470) had been obtained 

from a sample of 1000 homes (an effort 4 times as large as the one reported 

here) the range of probability for a 9970 confidence level would be reduced to 

1. 3 to 470 compared to the present 0. 6 to 6%. This offers some incentive for 

increasing the number of homes surveyed, especially at locations where only 

a few homes were surveyed, but again, the return of better data are disproportio

to the effort that could be applied in one year. 

2. 3 Externally Generated Surges 

2. 3. 1 Test Procedure 

At the conclusion of the repetitive surge detection program the surge counte

were installed for an extended period at a few homes for the duration of the 

summer, or at least for several weeks. Presumably, these homes were not 

subjected to repetitive internally generated surges (as confirmed by the recordings), so that only externally generated surges would be recorded. Except when 

a correlation was established with a lightning storm, there is no available information on the cause of the surge, so that lightning as well as system switching 

surges are included in this statistic. 

Table I11 summarized the recording data. A complete discussion of the 

results by G. J. Hahn follows. 

2. 3. 2 Analysis of Voltage Surge Data and Some Implications 

A. Introduction 

Data have been obtained on single polarity voltage surges above 1200 volts 

on 39 counters installed in a total of 91 homes in 15 localities for a total exposure time of 841 weeks. A total of 8 occurrences were observed during this 

YgThe fact that the counters record only one polarity is immaterial in this cade: 

the point was to detect those houses which had repetitive surges, not the number of surges at each location. (With random polarity in the surges, and some 

damping in oscillating surges, there is a factor of more than one and less than 

two to be applied to the number of surges indicated'in order to obtain the total 

number of surges of both polarities. ) 
period. From this information, it is desired to draw some conclusions concerning the expected number of such surges per home per year. The total ti

per counter ranged from 9 weeks to 48 weeks, with the average time per dev

being 22 weeks. The program was so planned that all devices would be in ho

during the summer months, that is, the period during which lightning storms

and thus voltage surges, are most likely to occur. 

B. Results of Analysis 

Analyses were conducted based on the following two alternate assumption

1. Voltage surges above 1200 volts occur only during the period of year 

that the counters were installed in the homes. Thus, although the counters w

in homes only for parts of the year, the time involved was so chosen (namely

the summer months) that no further surges would have been noted even if eac

counter had been run for 52 consecutive weeks. 

2. Voltage surges occur completely randomly throughout the year. Thu

a counter that was in use only 9 weeks would on the average have only a third 

as many observed surges as a counter in use for a period of 27 weeks. 

The above two assumptions clearly represent extremes. Thus, although 

neither is very realistic, results based on such assumptions permit one io ob

tain bounds within which one can reasonably expect the true expected number 

surges to lie. The results are as follows: 

Under assumption 1: A total of 8 surges occurred on 39 counters, thus 

the best estimate of the expected number of surges per home per year is 

8/39 or 0.205. This estimate is subject to statistical error, since only a 

limited number of counters were involved. However, from the appropriate 

statistical 4, we can state with 90% confidence that the average 

number of surges is between 0.102 per year and 0.370 per year. 

Under assumption 2: A total of 8 surges were observed in a total of 16. 

years of testing. Thus the expected number of surges per year is 8116.173 o

0. 495. The 90% confidence interval on this estimate is 0. 246 surges per yea

to 0.892 surges per year. 

The above calcula?ions refer only to single polarity surges. If one is 

ir:terested in all surges, the given values need be multiplied by a value corre

sponding to the additional proportion of opposite polarity surges above 1200 v

which do - not also result in positive surges above 1200 volts. This multiplyin

factor is probably in the order of 1. 6, accounting for the damping between th

first and second 1 / 2 cycle of an oscillating surge. 

Some additional assumptions are also involved in the analysis. Although 

these assumptions are not strictly met, they are probably not sufficiently incorrect to critically affect the validity of the analysis. These assumptions a

1. The homes were selected strictly at random. 

2. The voltage surge rate is the same from one home to the next. 

3. All voltage surges of one polarity during the period of installation we

recorded. 
If it is desired to relate the above data to probability of appliance failure, 

one must clearly multiply the given values by the probability that a surge above 

1200 volts would lead to appliance failure assuming the appliance is in use during the time of the lightning storm. (This would clearly be different for a toaster 

from what it would be for a radio. ) If one is interested only in failures during 

the warranty period an additional adjustment would be required. 

C. Possible Further Analysis 

A more refined analysis is possible by taking into account the geographical location of the homes, the occurrence rate of the lightning storms during 

the period under examination in these homes, and the exact dates at which the 

voltage surges occurred in order to obtain a measure of the probability of a 

voltage surge per lightning storm. The resulting values can then be used in 

conjunction with the information given in Ref. 4 to calculate a probability of 

voltage surge in any specified geographic area during a particular part of the 

year. Such an analysis would remove the need for making one of the two alternate assumptions stated above and lead to a single set of estimates. However, this would require more detailed data than could be collected in this 

program. 

2. 4 Surge Suppression Experiment 

At two of the locations where repetitive surges were found, a prototype 

surge suppressor was installed at the receptacle into which the counter was 

plugged. This suppressor consists of a Thyrector packaged for plug-in installation at receptacles, and is currently under evaluation by the Semiconductor 

Products Department for the home market. The counters were installed in 

alternating periods with and without suppressors, and the recording rates compared. A counter was especially modified to record surges over 60Q volts in 

order to roughly evaluate the effectiveness of the suppressor in reducing the 

surges of 1200 volts or more occurring without suppression. 

Location No. 1 - (Home in Ft. Wayne, Ind., refrigerator identified as source

Dates 

(1 965) Conditions 

3/11 to 8/10 No Suppressor 

8/10to9/16 Suppressor 

9/16 to 11/12 No Suppressor 

lO/29 to 11/12 No Suppressor 

11/12to 11/26 Suppressor 

P 

(1 966) 

1/24 to 1/31 No Suppressor 

1/31 to 218 No Suppressor 

Days 

152 

3 7 

5 7 

14 

14 

7 

7 

No. of Surges Above 

1200 Volts Recorded 

252 

0 

107 

Unknown 

0 

Unknown 

Unknown 

No. of Surges Above 

600 Volts Recorded 

Unknown 

Unknown 

Unknown 

11 

0 
Location No. 2 - (Home in Newton, Mass., oil burner identified as source

Dates No. of Surges Above 

(1 966) Conditions Days 600 Volts Recorded 

5/10 to 5/17 No Suppressor 7 8 

5/17 to 5/24 Suppressor in 7 0 

5/24 to 5/31 No Suppressor 7 0 

There were eight recordings which occurred in the first seven days withou

the use of the suppressor. On or about May 18, the warm weather really set 

in, and it is doubtful that the burner went on after that, which explains the 

absence of surges in the second period without the suppressor. 

The results of the experiment at both locations are quite conclusive for 

the effectiveness of the Thyrector in suppressing the internally generated surg

from a potentially damaging value in excess of 1200 volts to an innocuous value 

of less than 600 volts. 

IV. DISCUSSION OF THE TRANSIENT MEASUREMENTS 

1. Distribution of Magnitudes 

The histogram, Fig. 4, shows the distribution as recorded by the oscilloscopes; the low frequency shown below 500 volts is due to a deliberate cutoff in the sensitivity of the oscilloscopes (in order to limit the number of oscilloscope triggers). This is to be compared with the distribution reported in 

Ref. 5 and reproduced on Fig. 5, where the frequency increased by three decades with a threshold lowered from 400 to 50 volts. 

The highest internally generated surge was about 2800 volts, with the 

majority of the surges in the 1000 to 1500 volts range at locations where these 

were occurring frequently. 

Lightning surges were found as high as 5. 6 kV; however, the small total 

number of surges recorded makes it difficult to present definitive conclusions. 

2. Distribution of Surge Generating Appliances 

The 2. 4% estimate derived from the surge counter survey has already bee

discussed from the statistical point of view in Section 111. The real problem, 

however, is that of trading off minimum manufacturing cost (and, therefore, a 

calculated risk of failure) against complaint expenses. This is certainly the 

prerogative and responsibility of individual departments, and not that of the 

CLUL~IUL-. ItIU w cv CL , IL IV 11~pccl LllaL Lllc daLa yr cu~rrL~J lr-r G will ooalba-ibu* 0 a 

factual input to this trade-off. 
V. EFFECTS OF TRANSIENT OVERVOLTAGES ON SEMICONDUCTORS 

Previous investigations have indicated some significant factors to be 

considered when semiconductors are exposed to transient voltages in the 

reverse direction (forward direction generally results at worst in one-half 

cycle forward conduction into the load, which is not catastrophic with the AC 

power sources): 

1. Failure modes, nonavalanche rectifiers 

The nonavalanche (or at least the non-"controlled avalanche") 

rectifiers fail by breakdown of the insulation surface at the edges 

of the wafer. This breakdown is a characteristic of the semiconductor geometry and materials, and has no direct relation to 

the PRV rating of the device. 

Application of a reverse voltage transient during forward conduction produces failure at levels substantially lower than when the 

transient is applied during blocking. 

No significant difference was found between the failure level for 

single vs multiple (several thousands) application of overvoltages. 

For steep pulse fronts (shorter than 1 us), the failure level increases with rate of rise. 

Aging of semiconductors by storage at high temperature does not 

affect the failure levels. 

Energy level of the transient, i. e., duration for a specified voltage appearing across a specified impedance, does not affect the 

failure level. 

2. Failure Modes--Controlled Avalanche Rectifiers 

The energy dissipating characteristic of the device can hold the 

transient voltage level below surface breakdown level, however, 

long pulses may heat the material so much as to produce: 

bulk failures by hot spot 

an increase in the voltage across the device such that surface 

breakdown voltage is reached 

Therefore, care and not indiscriminate selection is required in 

applying avalanche characteristics for circuits exposed to "long" 

transients. 

VI. SUPPRESSION METHODS 

Transient suppression can be accomplished either at the source or at the 

sensitive load. System designers may be able to specify the suppression at the 

source, but the majority of users will have to protect their appliances at the 

load, or at some location of their system. For instance, in a home, the suppressor may be installed at the service entrance or at an outlet. The service 

entrance location is optimum for protection against incoming surges, while the 
outlet location is optimum for protection of a single appliance at that outlet. 

Nevertheless, a substantial protection is obtained throughout the house if a 

suppressor is installed at one outlet only. 

While protective devices are fairly well known, their application can 

lead to some pitfalls. (6) For large and expensive equipment, it seems more 

acceptable to provide some investment in surge protection, which can then 

be specified by technical performance rather than cost. On the other hand, 

mass market devices are subject to economic criteria which make the selection of a surge protector a more delicate trade-off. 

VII. REFERENCES 

J. Martzloff, F. D. and Hahn, G. J., Surge Voltage in Residential and 

and Industrial Power Circuits, l1 IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus 

and Systems, Vol. PAS-89, ~ul~/August 1970, pp. 1049-1056. 

2. Dixon, W. J. and Massey, F. J., Jr., Introduction to Statistical Analysis, 

McGraw -Hill Book Company, Inc. , New York, 1957. 

3. Bowker, A. H. and Lieberman, G. J., Engineering Statistics, PrenticeHall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1959. 

4. Brownlee, K. A., Statistical Theory and Methodology in Science and 

Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. , New York, N. Y. 

5. Bull, J. H. and Nethercot, W., "The Frequency of Occurrence and the 

Magnitude of Short Duration Transients in Low Voltage Mains, - The 

Radio and Electronic Engineer, September 1964. 

6. Martzloff, F. D., I1Coordination of Surge Protectors in Low-Voltage 

AC Power Circuits, IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and 

Systems, Vol. PAS-99, ~anuar~l~ebruar~ 1980, pp. 129-133. 

VIII, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The author wishes to acknowledge the support received from the department

involved in the pooled program, involving financial support from the department

as well as the cooperation from the hundreds of individuals who took the surge 

counters home and returned the records to the author. 

The contribution of G. J. Hahn, Statistician, Research and Development 

Center, in interpreting and discussing the statistical aspects of the results is 

acknowledged. 
1 mST SEVERE SURGE NOST FREQUENT SURGE LVERAGE 

WER DURATION OF 

' SURGES OBSERVATION REHARKS 

1 HOYR / WRS I - 

CREST 

VOLTS 

:-TO -PK DURATION CREST PK-TO-PK DUBA ON us 'SK VOLTS gcgs VOLTS VOLTS fTYPE 

D.P. Shattuck 

- - -- 

K.N. Mathes 0- 14 / 250 I nuorescent light 

switchin

I It I I I 

P. Chowdhuri 1 cycle B-0.5 300 500 1 cycle 

I I I I I I 

P.H. Bosvorth 2 cycles B-0.5 300 500 2 cycle 

R.L. Maul - 1 ps 1) Two few surges to show 

typical valw. I surgesl 500 

total I 

R.G. Hoft 

Probably al

storm. 

P.A. Fessler 

- 

Ellis 

Hosvital 

All during 

storm. 

-- - 

St. Clare's 

Hospital 

Barney's 

Dept. Store 

L & H Hotel 

1400 Il cycle I I 'bo few surges to show 

typical valw. I surges 700 

total 

500 lcycle B-0.5 300 500 lcycle 

I I 

Probably 

H.R. Sellers 0.2 100 oil burner. 

W.H. Bellamy 

W.J. Smiley 

J. R. Ross 

F.D. Martzloff 

P.A. Abetti 

D.G. Gruber 

K.H. Hoffmann 

Deer Park 

Palmetto 

#2 llG System 

480 volt 

feed svstem 

2000 1 1 1 same as most severe 

0.4 1 125 1 ail burner 

2000 1 1 1 same as most severe qTT!=

water pump 

0.06 1 500 1 oil burner 

I surges 150 House adjac

total to J.R. Ros

. surge Probably 

total lightning 

400 1 1 1 too few to show typical 

0.05 1 1500 I Rural area 

sur es 

Lightning 

stroke with

1000 feet. 

10 ps 10 )Is 200 4 cycles B-0.2 600 1000 cycle *

s stem 

.4 400 &cycle too few to show typical 

No surges above 300 volts were recorded at the 7 following locations: GE Bldg. 37, roof-top house, air conditioning 

bus, 440 volts bus. 550 volts bus; Hotel Van Curler; FE system #I; B. Murphy. 

qT: A - Long Oscillation; B - Damped Oscillation; C - Unidirectional - NUHBER SHOWS FREQUENCY IN MEGACYCLES 
TABLE fI 

SIMURY OF SURGE COWER RECORDINGS IN HOMES - DECEMBER 1964 to MARCH 1965 

Location Number Recording Number of 

(~pproximate) of homes Period Houses with Detailed Information 

surveyed (weeks) Surge Activity 

Providence. R.I. 4 2-6 None 

-- 

Cleveland, Ohio 

Lg. Lamp data 14 2 -4 1 

Min. Lamp data 14 2 -4 None 

1 surge over 1200 - community-wide power 

failure. 

Auburn, N.Y. 12 2-3 None 

Lynchburg, Va. 3 2-3 None 

Syracuse, N.Y. 8 1-2 1 1200 to 2000V surge, 1 polarity only, 64 coun

in 10 days, probably refrigerator. 

Chicago, Ill. 23 1-6 None 

Ashland, Mass. 24 1-2 1 surge over 1200V in a 20 day period, no 

known system disturbance. 

6 surges over l2OOV in a 12 day period, no 

known system disturbance. 

Holland, Mich. 6 2-10 None 

Louisville, Ky. 10 2-6 1 1 surge over 1200V - lightning stroke which 

burned out TV set and UHF converter in the 

home. 

Somersworth, N.H. 

(and nearby N.B. h 50 1-2 

Maine locations) 

Surges between 1200 and 2000 volts, some 

probably close to 1200 as two counters at 

same location had difference in count. 

Counter simultaneously installed in adjacent 

house did not record any surges. Most 

frequent count at night in cold weather; 

probable cause is oil burner. 

Plainville , Conn. 5 10 None DAD & CPDD data. 

Asheboro, N.C. 24 1-2 None 

Ft. Wayne, Ind. 

Spty. Transf. data 23 1-2 None 

Laboratory data 15 2-4 3 

* 

Location #1: Ballast side of switch control- 

(7 counts) ling a fluorescent lamp, no * surges on the line side. 

Location #2: Surges recorded in connection 

(5 counts) with operation of GE portable * mixer. 

Location #3: Surges recorded as fan motor 

(5 counts) plug is removed from same 

outlet as counter. * All between 1200 and 2000V 

DeKalb, Ill. 10 3 

4 12 None 

Pittsfield 26 1-2 1 One surge with no known system disturbance 
Ashboro, N.C. 

De Kalb, Ill, 

Somersworth, N.H. 

Chicago, Ill. 

Cleveland, Ohio 

Decatur, Ill. 

Cleveland, Ohio 

Holland, Mich. 

Auburn, N.Y. 

Springfield, Pa. 

Ashland, Mass. 

Pittsfield, Mass 

Plainsville, Conn. 

Lynchburg, Va. 

Total 

1 in Home el 

1 in Home 412 

1 in 1 Home 

0 

1 in 1 Home 

1 in Home #l 

2 in Home %3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 in 1 Home 

9 in 8 Homes 

Several storms in area. 

Violent storm. 

No known disturbance. 

Owner installed arrester 

after the first count. 

During power outage. 

During storm. 

During same storm. 

2000 volt counter at same 

outlet did not register 

(during storm) . 
1500  

1000 - 

500 - 

0 - 

Volts 

500 - 

1000 - 

1500 - 

1000- 

500- 

0- 

Volts 

500- 

1000- 

1500' 

3000- 

ZOO& 

1000- 

0- 

Volts 

1000- 

2000- 

3000 - 

Composite record showing 

surges for a 24-hour 

period. 

Oscilloscope is triggered 

for each surge, plus once 

every hour, resulting in 

- + 165 volt band of steadystate 60 cps voltage. 

Recordings above 1800V 

are blanked out by 

oscilloscope. 

100 

Microseconds 

Single surge occurring 

150 ps after initial, 

low amplitude surge 

triggered the oscilloscop

Maximum recorded surge, 

at 2600 volts. 

In a 5-day period surges 

this wave shape were 

recorded as follows: 

Number Voltage Range 

of surges 

1 2500 - 3000 

21 2000 - 2500 

18 1500 - 2000 

13 1000 - 1500 

Cause: H.V. transformer 

oil furnace interr

I I I 

1.7 3.7 6 14 10.6 ~icroseconds JO 

Fig. 1. Typical Surges Recorded at Stewart Manor, L. I., N. Y., 

February 16-21, 1963. 
Lightning surge at Deer Park 3.8 KEr crest, 1,Us rise time 

330 KC oscillation 

Lightning surge at Deer Park 5.6 KV crest, rise time ( IDS 

500 KC oscillation 

Fig. 2. Transients Recorded on Overhead Distribution Systems in 

Charleston, S. C, , July 1963. 
Switching transient with restrikes--probably external to the house. 

(The faint sine wave corresponds to the return of the electron beam which wa

not completely blanked out. It illustrates the peak-to-peak value of the 

steady state 117 voltage, but not at the same rate as the forward sweep.) 

Internal switching transient 

(15 such transients in 1500 hours) 

Fig. 3. Transients Recorded at a Farmhouse, August 1963. 

- 18 -
BIBLIOGRAPHY 

This bibliography was prepared by the author for IEEE Standard 587 - 1980, 

"IEEE Guide for Surge Voltages in Low-Voltage AC Power Circuits". It 

is reprinted with permission of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics 

Engineers, Inc., 345 East 47th Street, New York, New York 10017. 

Dl. Publications Describing the Environment 

[Dl] AIEE COMMITTEE REPORT. Switching 

Surges Due to De-Energization of Capacitive 

Circuits, AZEE Transactions, Aug 1957, pp 

562-564. 

[D2] ALLEN, G. W., and SEGALL, D. Monitoring Computer Installations for Power Line 

Disturbances, presented at the IEEE Power 

Engineering Society Winter Meeting, New 

York, NY, Jan 1974, Paper C74-199-6. 

[D3] BODLE, D. W., GHAZI, A. J., SYED, M., 

and WOODSIDE, R. L. Characterization of the 

Electrical Environment, Toronto and Buffalo, 

NY: University of Toronto Press, 1976. 

[D4] BULL, J. H. Impedance of the Supply 

blains at Radio Frequencies, Proceedings of the 

First Symposium on EMC, Montreux, May 

1975, 75CH1012-4 Mont. 

[D5] CHOWDHURI, P. Transient-Voltage Characteristics of Silicon Power Rectifiers, IEEE 

Transactions on Industry Applications, vol 

IA-9, Sept/Oct 1973, p 582. 

LUbJ CLANUS, N., and YlLKL'J!i, b. '1'. A 

Ground-Lightning Environment for Engineering Usage, Stanford Research Institute, Menlo 

Park, CA 94205, Aug 1972. 

[D7] Golde, R. H., Ed. Lightning, vols 1 and 2, 

New York: Academic Press, 1977. 

[DB] HASLER, R., &d LAGADEC, R. Digital 

Measurement of Fast Transients on Power 

Supply Lines, proceedings of the Third Symposium on EMC, Rotterdam, May 1979. 

[D9] JOHNSON, I. B. IEEE Tutorial Course: 

Surge Protection in Power Systems, IEEE 

Power Engineering Society, 79EH0144-6-PWR, 

1978. 

[Dl01 LENZ, J. E. Basic Impulse Insulation 

Levels of Mercury Lamp Ballast for Outdoor 

Applications, Illuminating Engineering, Feb 

1964, pp 133-140. 

[Dll] LERSTRUP, K. Atmospheric Overvoltages on Low-Voltage Installations, International 

Electrotechnical Commission, Doc IEC-28Al 

WG1, Feb 1976. 

[Dl21 MARTZLOFF, F. D. Coordination of 

Surge Protectors in Low-Voltage AC Power Circuits, presented at the IEEE Power Engineering 

Society Summer Meeting, 1979, Paper F 79 

635-4. 

[Dl31 MARTZLOFF, F. D. Protection contre 

les surtensions: Importance des nouvelles techniques. Proceedings, 1980 ZEEE Canadian Conference on Communications and Power, 

80CH1583, pp 267-270. 

[Dl41 MARTZLOFF, F. D., and CROUCH, 

K. E. Coordination de la protection contre les 

surtensions dam les reseaux base tension 

residentiels, Proceedings 1 978 ZEEE Canadian 

Conference on Communications and Power, 

78CH1373-0, pp 451-454. 

[Dl51 MARTZLOFF, F. D., and Hahn, G. J. 

Surge Voltage in Residential and Industrial 

Power Circuits, ZEEE Transactions on Power 

Apparatus and Systems, vol PAS-89, July1 

Aug 1970, pp 1049-1056. 

[Dl61 PLUMER, J. A., and CROUCH, K. E. 

Lightning Protection for Traffic Control Sys- IXT--L:-~--. nn --A D---A ..--. n~

Public Technology, 1978. 

D2. Publications Describing Test Methods 

[Dl71 CROUCH, K. E., FISHER, F. A., and 

MARTZLOFF, F. D. Transient Control Levels: 

A Better Way to Voltage Ratings in Power Converter Applications, Conference Record, IEEE 

Industry Applications Society, 11 th Annual 

Meeting, Chicago, IL, Oct 11-14, 1976, pp 

940-944. 

[Dl81 FISHER, F. A. and MARTZLOFF, F. D. 

Transient Control Levels, a Proposal for Insulation Coordination in Low-Voltage Systems, 

ZEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and 

Systems, vol PAS-95, JanIFeb 1976, pp 120- 

129. 

[Dl91 LUTZ, M. Testing with Impulse Voltages 

and Impulse Currents in the Range of 0.5 to 75 

kV and 1 A to 30 kA, Haefely Application 

Note, 1979. (Available from American HV Test 

Systems, Central Garrett Industrial Park, Accident, MD 21520.) 
[D24] RICHMAN, P. Diagnostic Surge Testing, 

pts I, 11, Power Conversion, Oct/Nov, 1979. 

[D25] TIMPERLEY, J. E. Construction and 

Application of a SWC Generator, presented at 

the IEEE Power Engineering Society Winter 

Meeting, New York, NY, Jan 1972, Paper 

C72-040-9. 

[D32] IEEE Std 465.1-1977, Test Specifi

tions for Gas Tube Surge Protective Devices. 

[D33] Rural Electrification Administrat

(REA) Specification PE-60, Trunk Carr

Multiplex Equipment. Washington, DC 202

1975. 

ID341 UL943, Standard for Safety - Grou

Fault Circuit Interrupters, May 1976.