Want to add surge protection without voiding your switch’s UL listing? Check out these heavy-duty safety switches

by Brianna Crandall — June 5, 2017 — Power management company Eaton recently announced the launch of its heavy-duty safety switches with surge protection, the latest in its expanding portfolio of switching devices. Combining Eaton’s heavy-duty safety switches with integrated surge protective devices (SPD) courtesy of the Eaton SP1 and CVX series, this packaged solution provides contractors and end users with significantly better performance than externally mounted devices, resulting in a completely wired, UL-listed solution and better protection for connected equipment, says the company.

Eaton safety switches with surge protection

Eaton’s heavy-duty safety switches with integrated surge protection provide protection for connected equipment at the service entrance and/or branch circuit level.

John Alexander, product manager, Eaton, pointed out:

Traditionally, contractors have faced significant challenges when connecting an SPD to a safety switch, as previous attempts to do so have resulted in voiding the switch’s UL listing. Thanks to the innovation of Eaton’s engineers, we’ve managed to integrate surge into our switching devices in a way that not only keeps them UL-certified, but also performs better than solutions in which surge is applied externally.

Eaton’s heavy-duty safety switches with surge protection, available in switches ranging from 30–1,200 amps, provide protection at the service entrance and/or branch circuit level. Innovative features of the packaged solutions include:

  • Integral surge protection device (SPD) wired to the load side of the switch, which can be isolated from line-side power should the SPD require replacing
  • External viewing window and enhanced visible blade components to provide increased visibility over each pole, allowing users to clearly see the trailing edge of the blade
  • Additional window positioned over the SPD to enable viewing of LEDs for quick status indication
  • Modified safety switch with NEMA Type 12/3R and 4/4X enclosures, as well as a choice of Eaton Type SP1 or CVX surge devices
  • UL certifications include UL 98, file no. E5239, and UL 1449 4th Edition, file no. E316410

Eaton’s heavy-duty safety switches with surge protection were pioneered in Eaton’s Switching Device Flex Center. Based in Cleveland, Tennessee, the facility designs and modifies safety switches, and encloses circuit breakers and rotary disconnects for needs that are not met by standard products. Products developed in the Flex Center are specially designed for harsh environments, enhanced safety and customer convenience, as well as custom products for specific customer applications.

Learn more about Eaton’s heavy-duty safety switches with surge protection or Eaton’s full line of products for power distribution and control assemblies on the company’s Web site.