TRABTECH has been chosen to provide lightning and mains surge protection for the new £2 million radar installation at Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority Ltd ("THPAL").

FLASHTRAB 60-400 and VALVETRAB MS, from the Phoenix TRABTECH range have been selected to protect the radar drive motor cabling and UPS equipment at the Port Operations Centre, Pilots Pier Lighthouse, and the radar masts at both Dabholm Beck and the South Gare. All have three phase and neutral supplies and were equipped in a similar manner.

At the Pilots Pier lighthouse, (Hartlepool) secondary protection has been provided by two FLASHTRAB FL 60-400, protecting the incoming phase and neutral mains supply and secondary surge protection at the UPS output by two VALVETRAB MS-230 ST surge arresters. The scanner/antenna motor control system has been fitted with 5v Termitrab DIN rail mounted arresters.

The combination of FLASHTRAB, VALVETRAB and TERMITRAB provides a sequenced cascade of protection starting with FLASHTRAB, providing 60,000 Amps worth of lightning protection at the Main incomer, 15,000 Amps at sub-distribution level and 750 Amps at the end device.

The surge voltage will eventually be clamped at 9 volts DC. Only in this manner can such a high level of protection be provided, resulting in the most efficient transient protection currently available, coupled with a much lower cost when compared with other systems offering inferior levels of protection.

FLASHTRAB is unique as a lightning arrester in not employing varistor technology. It liberates the user from the sacrificial failure characteristics of this type of device that can lead to supply failure and overheating, in highly stressed installations.

VALVETRAB employs a varistor in such a manner that it automatically disconnects itself from the Mains supply long before the overheating and earth leakage become unacceptably dangerous. Once disconnection is effected, it is locally and remotely signalled without disrupting the Mains supply. Replacement is simply a matter of unplugging the failed arrester and plugging in a replacement. No special tools or skills are required.

TERMITRAB is low level surge protection mounted on a DIN rail is a Terminal and surge arrester in one module.

The PHOENIX CONTACT TRABTECH Range of transient protection is unique in being the only equipment available to give this type of lightning protection.