New Products

LifeCheck ® SPD Test
SPD
diagnostics with early
warning function!
• Increased protection and availability of your
installations and systems due to integrated
LifeCheck monitoring system
– Integrated three-stage monitoring of all protective
circuit components
– Quick diagnostics of surge protective devices
– Easy testing of protection modules without downtime
via contactless RFID technology
– Even detects previously damaged arresters
Regular testing of arresters installed
During operation, an arrester may be overloaded by discharge processes
exceeding the arrester specification. In order to ensure high system availability,
it is therefore essential to test arresters on a regular basis. DIN EN
62305-3, supplement 3 (see table excerpt), specifies the maximum intervals
between tests of external and internal lightning protection systems.
Class of Visual Complete Complete inspection
LPS inspection inspection of critical systems
I and II 1 year 2 years 1 year
III and IV 2 years 4 years 1 year
Easy testing with LifeCheck
Maintenance of LifeCheck-equipped BLITZDUCTOR XT arresters is particularly
easy. LifeCheck uses modern RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)
technology for monitoring the protective circuit and for communication.
Irrespective of system downtimes, LifeCheck allows quick and easy testing
of arresters by means of the hand-held DRC LC M3+ reader or a stationary
DRC MCM XT condition monitoring unit.
Indication of arrester failure
The three-stage LifeCheck monitoring circuit with early warning function
detects extreme electrical or thermal load on all protection elements of
an arrester below their destruction limit. This can be contactlessly read
out within a matter of seconds by means an RFID reader. If the reader displays
"OK", no extreme load was detected. If the contrary is the case, the
module should be replaced as soon as possible in order not to threaten
the availability of the protected circuit.
1
2
3
4
1´
2´
protected
3‘
4‘
The basic circuit diagram graphically
shows whether LifeCheck is used to
monitor the protective circuit of an arrester.
In case of BXT arresters, the complete
protective circuit is monitored.
Functional principle of the LifeCheck diagnostics systems
SPD
indication
of operating
state
Transponder (SPD)
identification IC
energy
data
reader IC
Reader (test device)
power
Principle of communication between an arrester and a test device
microcontroller
communication
The diagnostics system consists of two functional units:
1. RFID reading and signalling unit (reader)
Combined with a visual electrical display, an electronic system contactlessly
transmits energy to the RFID transponder in the arrester via
an antenna. If the operating state of the arrester can be read out, an
"OK" message is displayed.
2. Monitoring unit in the arrester:
It combines the diagnostics of the three-stage LifeCheck monitoring
circuit with the communication of the RFID transponder:
• Diagnostics of electrical overload (impulse current)
Lightning strikes or overvoltage exceeding the specified discharge
capacity of the arrester will damage or even destroy the protection
elements. The LifeCheck monitoring device detects this electrical
overload. When reading out the transponder, the "Replace SPD!"
message appears.
• Diagnostics of thermal overload (overheating)
Active and passive protection elements in a critical temperature
range will be previously damaged or even destroyed depending on
the type and duration of the overload. The LifeCheck monitoring
device detects this overload. When reading out the transponder, the
"Replace SPD!" message appears.
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