One of the wires used in the USA to distribute power within a building. The neutral wire is generally connected to earth ground at a building service entrance, but unlike the ground wire, the neutral wire also carries load current.

Mode 1 and Mode 2 are used by the Federal surge suppressor CID purchase specification. Mode 1 is the ground wire protection mode (no surge diversion to the ground wire). Mode 2 permits ground wire contamination, and is sometimes referred to as “all mode” suppression, or ground contamination mode.

The peak voltage that is let through a surge protection device from a surge to the protected equipment. The theoretical lower limit is about 180 volts peak for standard 120 volt AC power. Lower is better. Also called SV (Suppressed Voltage) by UL. An important measure of suppressor performance. UL by rule will not issue a rating for less than 330 volts. Any device that has a let-through voltage of lower than 330 volts is listed as "<330 volts" which is what all Zero Surge products are rated.

Some protectors are rated in joules, meaning that if a surge exceeds the joule rating, the protector will likely be damaged. The joule rating of protectors reduces with each surge that the device encounters. It is not an official safety rating of the product. Zero Surge products do not have a Joule rating because our products do not degrade with use. The amount of energy that our products can absorb is limited by the wiring in a building. At some point the wire in the wall will break down before our product would and at that point the circuit is no longer powered.

FAQs Archive - Page 5 of 9

Q: Noise

An undesirable signal that is irregular and is riding on top of the desired signal.

Q: National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

A forum for the standardization of electrical equipment, enabling consumers to select from a range of safe, effective, and compatible electrical products. The cabinets that Zero Surge use for the Commercial Products line are rated by NEMA.

Q: Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV)

A component which behaves like a low value resistor when a certain voltage threshold is exceeded. These components “wear out” with use and should be replaced periodically.

Q: Maximum Continuous Operating Voltage (MCOV)

This is the magnitude limit of continuously applied voltage. This is a UL rated property of surge protectors. If the voltage is maintained above this voltage, the protector will fail. With Zero Surge Wide Voltage Range technology, the MCOV is 175 volts. Most plug in surge protectors have an MCOV of <150 volts.

Q: Local Area Network (LAN)

An interconnection of computers, printers and other peripherals permitting the sharing of hardware and software resources.

Q: Load

An electrical device connected to a power source. The "load" side of a circuit is where power is consumed.

Q: Joule Rating

Some protectors are rated in joules, meaning that if a surge exceeds the joule rating, the protector will likely be damaged. The joule rating of protectors reduces with each surge that the device encounters. It is not an official safety rating of the product. Zero Surge products do not have a Joule rating because our products do not degrade with use. The amount of energy that our products can absorb is limited by the wiring in a building. At some point the wire in the wall will break down before our product would and at that point the circuit is no longer powered.

Noise

By Jim Minadeo|2021-04-03T20:43:07-04:00April 3rd, 2021|N|

An undesirable signal that is irregular and is riding on top of the desired signal.

Neutral

By Jim Minadeo|2021-04-03T20:42:31-04:00April 3rd, 2021|N|

One of the wires used in the USA to distribute power within a building. The neutral [...]

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

By Jim Minadeo|2021-04-03T20:41:57-04:00April 3rd, 2021|N|

A forum for the standardization of electrical equipment, enabling consumers to select from a range of [...]

Mode

By Jim Minadeo|2021-04-03T20:38:14-04:00April 3rd, 2021|M|

Mode 1 and Mode 2 are used by the Federal surge suppressor CID purchase specification. Mode [...]

Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV)

By Jim Minadeo|2021-04-03T20:37:22-04:00April 3rd, 2021|M|

A component which behaves like a low value resistor when a certain voltage threshold is exceeded. [...]

Maximum Continuous Operating Voltage (MCOV)

By Jim Minadeo|2021-05-18T11:32:52-04:00April 3rd, 2021|M|

This is the magnitude limit of continuously applied voltage. This is a UL rated property of [...]

Local Area Network (LAN)

By Jim Minadeo|2021-04-03T20:32:29-04:00April 3rd, 2021|L|

An interconnection of computers, printers and other peripherals permitting the sharing of hardware and software resources.

Let-Through Voltage

By Jim Minadeo|2021-04-03T20:31:46-04:00April 3rd, 2021|L|

The peak voltage that is let through a surge protection device from a surge to the [...]

Load

By Jim Minadeo|2021-04-02T12:17:15-04:00April 2nd, 2021|L|

An electrical device connected to a power source. The "load" side of a circuit is where [...]

Joule Rating

By Jim Minadeo|2021-05-18T11:30:38-04:00April 2nd, 2021|J|

Some protectors are rated in joules, meaning that if a surge exceeds the joule rating, the [...]