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Another posh surge unit to rival the MeanWell unit.  But this one was MUCH easier to open.

It also has a better and simpler failure indicator with just a single low current LED that everyone will ignore anyway.  If I was cynical I might think that this unit is just a way to get the light beyond the warranty period.

There's always an issue mixing electronic power supplies with traditional transformers and inductive ballasts.  The collapsing field of a chunky inductor can induce a significant voltage spike that might not bother other discharge lamps, but may make an electronic driver shit its little silicon pants.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10a_G8YqNBQ


Files

Inside a Philips Xtreme surge device for street lights

This is a unit that Philips use in some of their LED street lights to protect the LED drivers from transients. Especially important when LED lights are used on the same circuits as discharge sources like low and high pressure sodium or metal halide, as some of the lamp ignition circuits are very spiky. When electronic halogen transformers first appeared on the scene they were very prone to failure when used on the same circuits as traditional transformers due to issues with the inductive spikes caused by the traditional transformers when switching. Now history may be repeating itself with mixed street light types. This unit may be intended to help get the light through the warranty period. I do like the open construction MOV modules. Unlike the potted MeanWell units with their encapsulated thermal fuses, these units use a simple spring contact. It even looks like the classic wavy-line fuse symbol. As with all Philips lighting products the design is pretty neat. Notably the resistor in series with the LEDs dropper cap circuit, that is designed to handle the full current if the capacitor fails short circuit. If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:- https://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's algorithm quirks, allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty. #ElectronicsCreators

Comments

Mike Page

That 1mA withstand voltage is a bit controversial. DC is easy enough. But with a nonlinear component, you can't just take the DC value and divide by 1.414 to get AC. However, that seems to be what the industry is settling on, and it errs on the safe side. Remember, you're meant to replace an SPD if it fails in service or shows a 1mA test value lower than the rated AC voltage.

Curtis Hoffmann

I'm currently trying to patent a surge protector that uses blasting caps as surge indicators. I'm told there are certain environments where this is not recommended. I am trying to get the environment definitions changed. Wish me luck.

Dave Matthews

I think somewhere, I have a streetlamp lifespan/replace-me indicator, would you like me to send this over to you if I can find it?

bigclive

The powerline lightning arrestors actually do that. If the MOV stack leaks enough current to heat up a carbon pellet it fires a .22 blank and literally blows the ground connection wire off the bottom of the unit.