frequently asked questions

1. How do I order a Meter-Treater^®?
    
2. What causes power line surges, and how do they damage my equipment?
    
3. What does a surge arrester do?
    
4. Why doesn't my utility already have one of these on my meter?
    
5. Will the Meter-Treater^® protect me from all kinds of power disturbances?
    
6. What does the Meter-Treater^® look like when it is installed on my meter?
    
7. Does the Meter-Treater come with a warranty?
    
8. Some warranties I've seen are advertised as "Lifetime", what does this mean?
    
9. What causes my semiconductors and power supplies to fail?
    
10. My electronic equipment is going to be in a country where ac is known to be unreliable, and equipment failures are commonplace. What can I do to protect my equipment from experiencing failure and at the same time make it run as smooth as possible?
     
11. I have been told that a low-impedance isolation transformer will make my systems work better. What exactly are the benefits of transformer isolation?
     
12. What are sags, source impedance, and neutral-ground bonds? And while you're at it, how do I figure out what size UPS to buy?
     
13. What is PWM AVR (pulse-width-modulated automatic-voltage-regulation)?
     
14. What is a modified sine-wave UPS?
     
15. I'm wanting to get a couple of UPS to ship along with a small computer network and telecommunications system to an underdeveloped country. What kind of UPS should I get?
     
16. Why should I choose a line conditioner with an E-I type core transformer instead of a toroidal isolation transformer for my medical applications requiring a UL 60601-1 medical isolation transformer?

1.  How do I order a Meter-Treater^®?

Usually it is as easy as calling your utility company's Customer Service department. Most progressive utilities are already using Meter-Treater's®. If they're not conducting a power quality program yet, you might try asking for their metering superintendent and see if they would be willing to help you procure one. If they say they have something 'like' a Meter-Treater, we recommend you call us and instead get a Meter-Treater^® hardwire SPD device that is made so your electrical contractor can install it. If they have questions, you could direct them to this site, or give them our phone number (1.970.945.2770), and we will be happy to help them get what they need to approve the installation.

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2.  What causes power line surges, and how do they damage my equipment?

Thunderstorms and lightning are the most dramatic and destructive causes of power line problems. However, downed utility poles, squirrels, birds, and snakes shorting out transformers, or even large industrial motors switching on and off can create power surges. These surges are literally surges of overexcited electrons, which contain a lot of energy in short duration bursts.

Essentially, similar to a burner on a stove, but on a microscopic level, too much energy going through a small circuit will heat it up. But unlike a burner on a stove, without all of the metal mass to absorb and give off the excess energy or heat safely, tiny electrical circuits literally get microscopically red-hot in certain weak points, and then some of the molecules change phase from a solid to a gas, which we call smoke, and their exit leaves a pit. Enough pitting and the circuit is no longer a circuit anymore, and then you can experience system or appliance failure. Sometimes it takes years of repetitive impulses before a single, larger than average, surge acts as the last straw on the camel's back, and finally causes the failure.

(Ironically, as this was first written, there was a spring thunderstorm outside, which reminded me that you can experience destructive surges sometimes even when a lightning strike, or surge caused by other means, connects with a power line even a half mile away).

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3.  What does a surge arrester do?

A surge arrester, or surge diverter, acts like a trapdoor to excess electrical energy. Sometimes called over-voltages, or transients, or surges, unwanted bursts of electricity are lured to the trapdoor by what is called a low-impedance path to ground. The trapdoor is a metal oxide varistor, or MOV, which opens or "clamps" when the overvoltage exceeds a certain level, and safely diverts most of the excess energy to the ground rod.

When the over-voltage or transient is over, the MOV automatically resets and is ready for the next one. It is important to note that with lightning or other fast acting impulses, the leading edge of the impulse will pass the first MOV, even as the majority of the surge is racing to, and through, the trapdoor, hence the need for a second stage "point of use" plug-in type surge arrester inside the home or business.

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4.  Why doesn't my utility already have this on my meter?

Meter-Treater's® are relatively new to the utility industry. Though they've been around for over 10 years, most utilities like to conduct exhaustive testing or extensive reviews and approval processes before they allow something on the grid. It is done for your safety, and we wholeheartedly approve. Also, though the technology is relatively inexpensive, multiplied times thousands, it is still something that must be sold or leased, as someone has to cover the costs involved. As an investment, the cost can be recovered simply in protecting against just one catastrophic impulse that might wipe out most of the appliances and systems in a modern home. That said, hundreds of progressive utilities in the USA are now using Meter-Treater's.®

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5.  Will a Meter-Treater® protect me from all kinds of power disturbances?

No, though they do handle the most frequent and destructive ones. Very few people with both the Meter-Treater® and a second stage internal plug-in arrestor have ever suffered damage, but there are many variations of power disturbances, and we can't handle all of them with just surge arresting, even with second stage arresters with filters used inside. More sophisticated technologies, i.e. true on-line dual conversion uninterruptible power systems, are available to handle complex power problems. If your requirements include protection of very sensitive electronics or critical-care systems, contact us for additional information.

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6.  What does the Meter-Treater® look like when it is installed on my meter?

A Meter-Treater^® Model #240-1SL meter-based whole house surge arrester, installed directly behind the meter, with protected 10,000 MCD Status Monitoring LED Lights .

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Yes. Meter-Treater offers a standard 10-year product warranty as well as an optional 10-year consequential damages warranty (Subject to specific terms and conditions, naturally).

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A 'Lifetime Warranty' generally refers to the average life span of a product, not the life span of the residence or the homeowner. (CareBase note: This is not well known, and was dug up from some legal research. This was a surprise to me, too. *smiling*).

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9.  What causes my semiconductors and power supplies to fail?

Thunderstorms and lightning are the most dramatic and destructive causes of power line problems. However, downed utility poles, squirrels, birds, and snakes shorting out transformers, or even large industrial motors switching on and off can create power surges. These surges are literally surges of overexcited electrons, which contain a lot of energy in short duration bursts.

Why Power Supplies and Semiconductors Fail

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10. My electronic equipment is going to be in a country where the ac is known to be
      unreliable, and equipment failures are commonplace. What can I do to protect my
      equipment from experiencing failure and at the same time make it all run as
      smooth as possible?

There is no easy short answer to this. Voltage instability is more and more becoming a problem as population demands grow upon what often is a weak ac generation system to begin with. There are solutions that work though. There are two papers that focus on this, the first having more to do with voltage regulation and coordination of power quality devices, and the second with four different types of uninterruptible power systems for where uninterruptible power is also an issue.

Protection of Telecom Sites in Countries with Unstable Ac Mains and
Choosing UPS Protection for Underdeveloped Countries

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11. I have been told that a low-impedance isolation transformer will make my systems 
      work better. What exactly are the benefits of having one?

The benefits of adding a low-impedance isolation transformer are many. Logic accuracy is enhanced, electrical noise on the vital ground line is virtually eliminated, and other benefits are further documented in a short but concise paper (link is below) that addresses this question.

The Benefits of UPS and Line Conditioners with an Isolation Transformer

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12. What are sags, source impedance, and neutral-ground bonds? And while you're at it, 
      how do I figure out what size UPS to buy?

These are terms that help us define the electrical environment our systems work in. They are important to understand. Below is a white paper which addresses them in a brief but clear fashion. 

TSi Power Primer and Guide to UPS Terms

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13. What is PWM AVR?

PWM  AVR stands for pulse-width-modulated automatic voltage regulation. This is the latest state-of-the-art technology for automatically regulating your incoming voltage levels. It utilizes an IGBT based inverter topology to electronically modify the incoming electrical waveform to an ultra-pure sinewave with ideal voltage and power quality characteristics.

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14. What is a modified sine-wave UPS?

Typically this is what is called a "standby" UPS. In normal operation it delivers utility generated sine wave power. During an outage, or severe voltage drop, the UPS takes over with battery backup and an output of an inverter created modified sine wave. The pulse-width-modified and optimized peak-voltage modified square waveform is actually more beneficial for switch-mode power supplies. Switch-mode power supplies are what predominantly are utilized by computer and telecommunication systems.

The Merits of Standby UPS with Modified Sine Wave Output

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15. I need a UPS to ship along with a small computer network and telecommunications
     system to an underdeveloped country. What kind of UPS should I get? 

That will depend upon what your situation requires. You have to make a value judgment as to the criticality to the mission that the equipment has. There are different topologies of UPS. The following paper details the most cost-effective ones and their suitability to handle an underdeveloped country's electrical infrastructure.

One major determining factor that should be looked at from the beginning is whether there will ever be a motor-generator feeding the UPS. If so, you should get a true on-line double conversion ac to dc to ac UPS to handle problematic m-g start-up processes which can appear when things are starting to need maintenance. Also, if you anticipate using a redundant RAID style UPS (two or more UPS or other power sources) strategy with automatic transfer switches, you will need to make sure you have UPS with true sine wave (sinusoidal) output, even when on batteries, such as the XUPs or SG Series UPS

Choosing UPS Protection for Underdeveloped Countries

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 16. Why should I choose a line conditioner with an E-I type core transformer instead of
       a toroidal isolation transformer for my medical applications requiring a UL 60601-1
       medical isolation transformer?

TSi Power's medical-grade ILc-Med isolation line conditioners were developed to meet the very low leakage current requirements of UL 60601-1 standards for safety applicable to medical equipment power supplies. TSi Power has deliberately chosen an E-I core isolation transformer as the key component that provides electrical isolation between input and output ac for the reasons stated below:

1. An E-I core transformer is more stable and predictable for both static and dynamic ac line and load conditions than an equally sized toroidal transformer. A toroid's very low primary winding resistance acts as a short circuit during the first half cycle of ac - which can trip an upstream circuit breaker. This problem becomes especially serious for larger toroidal transformers of 500VA or larger whereas even the largest of E-I core transformers do not exhibit this type of problem, thanks to its greater reluctance against half-cycle pulses, which significantly softens the impact of the first half cycle pulses.

The half cycle pulse is a rather frequent occurrence during thunderstorms when spark - gap type surge arrestors operate to protect power lines and distribution transformers. Grid switching and on/off cycling of power can also result in unwanted tripping of circuit breakers.

2. TSi Power's E-I core isolation transformers can easily be made to work with all    common frequencies of 50Hz, 60Hz or between 47-63Hz. In comparison, designing a toroidal isolation transformer for 50Hz (especially if the power line is also unstable) can be a major challenge and an expensive exercise.

3. An E-I core transformer is an inherently superior noise filter than a toroidal transformer. TSi Power's E-I core isolation transformer line conditioner also includes a 3-stage surge protection and noise filtering system to provide the best surge protection and noise filtering as recommended for the typically very expensive and mission-critical systems whose down-time can be very costly and/or life threatening.

In summary, a toroidal transformer can be used in low power (less than 500VA) applications as a medical-grade isolation power source if one is willing to accept a reduced performance in noise filtering and surge protection. However, if the load exceeds 500VA and excellent noise filtering and power protection are also required, then only an E-I core transformer-based isolation line conditioner should be used for enhanced reliability, stability, noise filtering and protection of connected equipment.