Phoenix Contact’s New Surge Protective Devices for Power Supply Systems

Surge protection devices (SPDs) help prevent unplanned downtime caused by lightning strikes and voltage changes. As industrial systems become more automated and the need for uptime grows, manufacturers are requiring surge protection that is durable, safe, and easy to install.

Recently, Phoenix Contact launched its new VALVETRAB Safe Protection Plus (VAL-SPP) SPDs to help improve system uptime and installer safety in industrial power settings. The devices include miswiring protection, a touch-safe design, and modular remote signaling, which make installation and maintenance easier for both AC and photovoltaic systems.

Phoenix Contact’s VAL-SPP surge protection module mounted on a DIN rail. Image used courtesy of Phoenix Contact

VALVETRAB Safe Protection Plus

Sensitive electronics in industrial control panels, machine power systems, and renewable energy installations are vulnerable to damage from voltage spikes. Even brief surge events can degrade insulation, disrupt control logic, or trigger costly shutdown.

Phoenix Contact’s VALVETRAB Safe Protection Plus family stands as a potential solution to address these demands by combining equipment-level surge protection with installer-focused safety enhancements, supporting higher operational availability in modern electrical systems.

Miswiring and Touch Protection Features

The new VAL-SPP devices include miswiring protection to prevent incorrect connections during setup, touch protection to keep technicians safe when working with live electrical enclosures, and a low torque requirement of just 3 Nm to help avoid mounting mistakes or mechanical stress.

The new units also feature reinforced insulation, providing additional protection for people and connected systems. Every plug features a built-in mechanical status indicator, allowing overloaded protective plugs to be identified directly on-site.

VAL-SPP’s plug-in modular design simplifies wiring, enabling faster and safer installation in control cabinets. Image used courtesy of Phoenix Contact

Plug-In Remote Signaling Simplifies Maintenance

To make maintenance easier, the VAL-SPP devices offer modular, plug-in remote signaling. This lets operators check surge protection status without extra wiring or interruptions. This approach can save time in large industrial setups where surge protection modules need regular replacement. A quick-disconnect feature also improves safety in the event of a fault or surge.

North American Power Supply Systems

Alongside the global VAL-SPP series, Phoenix Contact has launched the VAL-US-SPP, designed for North American power networks. It meets NEMA standards, is UL-certified, and complies with NFPA 79 rules for surge protection on safety circuits in industrial equipment. The VAL-US-SPP line works with common regional setups, such as split-phase, wye, and delta networks. These devices are Open Type UL Listed, making it easy to add them to new or existing installations without extra testing.

The VAL-SPP series offers protection for both AC and photovoltaic applications across various nominal voltages. Image used courtesy of Phoenix Contact

Support for AC and Photovoltaic Applications

Phoenix Contact’s new VAL-SPP and VAL-US-SPP SPDs are suitable for many applications, including standard AC power distribution and photovoltaic surge protection for solar systems. The devices come in different voltage versions and circuit configurations, from single-channel units to ready-to-install solutions for four- or five-conductor systems. Phoenix Contact has also designed its new devices to operate reliably in harsh conditions, such as power grids with large voltage swings and installations up to 5,000 m high.

As the need for safer and more robust surge protection grows, the VAL-SPP Safe Protection Plus family offers a reliable option for machine builders and renewable energy system designers working in surge-sensitive environments.