Lightning surge test generator for telecommunication equipment

Abstract

AbstractLightning surge which is induced on a telecommunication cable may damage telecommunication equipment. This paper proposes a design method for a lightning surge generator which can accurately predict reliability for the lightning surges in telecommunication equipment and the quality of the lightning surge generator developed based on this method is described.First, the characteristics of the lightning surge which is fed to the equipment are determined from such factors as the lightning surge inducing mechanism. Next, the testing surge waveform design method is determined in which evaluations of the lightning surge proof of equipment by the peak voltage, steepness (peak voltage/ front time) and energy of the lightning surge can be performed in one surge test. The testing surge waveform then is determined based on this design method.A method is described for realizing the lightning surge characteristics and the testing surge waveform using a basic impulse voltage generator circuit which consists of an LRC circuit with few circuit elements. Experimental results demonstrate that the developed lightning surge generator based on the proposed designing method can predict the malfunction rate accurately.It is shown also that it is highly practical because its size and cost are about one‐tenth that of a conventional testing device.