BS EN 61643-312:2013

What is BS EN 61643-312 - Gas discharge tubes about?  

BS EN 61643-312 is an international standard used for low-voltage surge protective devices that specifies the requirements and application principles of gas discharge tubes. By using BS EN 61643-312 you can select and apply these gas discharge tubes anywhere in the telecommunication sector.  

BS EN 61643-312 is applicable to gas discharge tubes (GDT) used for overvoltage protection in telecommunications, signalling, and low-voltage power distribution networks with nominal system voltages up to 1 000 V (r.m.s.) a.c. and 1 500 V d.c. They are defined as a gap or several gaps with two or three metal electrodes hermetically sealed so that gas mixture and pressure are under control. They are designed to protect apparatus or personnel, or both, from high transient voltages. BS EN 61643-312 provides information about the characteristics and circuit applications of GDTs having two or three electrodes.  

Note: BS EN 61643-312 does not specify requirements applicable to complete surge protective devices, nor does it specify total requirements for GDTs employed within electronic devices, where precise coordination between GDT performance and surge protective device withstand capability is highly critical. 

Note: BS EN 61643-312 does not cover:  

• Does not deal with mountings and their effect on GDT characteristics. Characteristics given apply solely to GDTs mounted in the ways described for the tests 
• Does not deal with mechanical dimensions 
• Does not deal with quality assurance requirements 
• May not be sufficient for GDTs used on high frequency (>30 MHz) 
• Does not deal with electrostatic voltages 
• Does not deal with hybrid overvoltage protection components or composite GDT devices 

Who is BS EN 61643-312 - Gas discharge tubes for? 

BS EN 61643-312 on Components for low-voltage surge protective devices is useful for: 

• Manufacturer of electronic devices 
• Manufacturer of automotive parts  
• Manufacturer of gas tubes 
• Electronic devices  

Why should you use BS EN 61643-312 - Gas discharge tubes?  

Gas discharge tubes are extensively used for the protection of telecommunications plants and equipment. This protects against overvoltage caused by lightning, power switching, and fault conditions. 

BS EN 61643-312 specifies the mechanical requirements which are useful in determining the solderability and robustness of these gas discharge tubes. The designs specified in BS EN 61643-312 are useful in manufacturing or constructing these gas discharge tubes (GDT). This helps you in understanding the functioning of these tubes. With the help of BS EN 61643-312, you can apply these protective circuits anywhere in the telecommunication sector. This ensures the sustainability of these gas discharge tubes in different climatic conditions.  

By adopting BS EN 61643-312 you can manufacture good quality gas discharge tubes used in low-voltage surge protective devices.