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Arc Suppression Devices: Improving the Life of Your Zone Monitor - 30661 Arc Suppression Devices

Improving the Life of Your Zone Monitor

Inductive loads from high-voltage machines can affect the performance of your Zone Monitor. Arcing between relay contacts may cause early failure of your Zone Monitor’s relay contacts and nuisance shutdowns.To protect your Zone Monitor system against thisproblem, Larco recommends the installation of arc suppression devices (or snubbers), electronic compo- nents designed to eliminate contact arcing and suppress unwanted electrical noise in relay and switch contacts.

How Do You Select an Arc Suppression Device for a Particular Application?

Larco recommends selecting an arc suppression device according to your specific machine circuit load charac- teristics. Check with your manufac- turer regarding specifications for your particular device. Some suppliers manufacture their own arc suppression devices designed specifically for the component they manufacture.

What is an Arc Suppression Device?

Protect Your Zone Monitor Safety Mat Control System by installing Arc Suppression Devices (RC Networks or Snubbers). An arc suppression device is an electrical component comprised of capacitors and resistors connected in series with each other. The capacitor absorbs peak voltage surges and the RC combination smoothes the waveform and abosrbs high frequency oscillations.

What are the benefits of Arc Suppression Devices?

• • To protect contacts from problems caused byelectrical noise during switching operations of radio, TV, tool machine equipment, packaging machinery and other equipment. To protect electronic instruments while relays,solenoids and motors are in operation. Arc suppression devices effectively suppress arcing caused by back electromotive force and dampen high frequency oscillation. In addition, they can be used in the following applications:

WARNING!! Never install an arc suppression device across the machine control contacts of your Zone Monitor. If your arc suppression device fails to a shorted condition in this position, it would allow your machinery to continue to operate regardless of the Zone Monitor’s output signals.

• To protect semiconductor devices during controlof triacs, thyristors, motors, welders, illumination equipment and other machines. • To extend relay life. • To eliminate or reduce electronic noise that cannegatively affect nearby electronic devices.
1902 13th Street S.E. â—� PO Box 547 â—� Brainerd, MN 56401phone 218-829-9797 â—� toll free phone 800-523-6996 â—� fax 218-829-0139 â—� toll free fax 800-589-3705

www.larcomfg.com

IS-TB2- December 2002