March 1, 2004—9 Corporation introduces the Ground Transient Terminator—a UL approved filtering device to safely install in series with the ground line of electronic equipment to completely eliminate ground transients.
Unlike conventional surge suppression techniques using Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV), gas tube, or silicon diode technology, the GTT is the first suppression device approved by Underwriters Laboratories to go directly in series with the ground line of electronic equipment to prevent disruptions in operation.
The technology incorporates a patented circuit with no moving parts or sensitive electronics, and as a result, does not pose any threat to intrinsic safety ground, and is the first to be UL approved for use in grounding applications. “By eliminating transients on the ground, potentially damaging voltages have no means to enter equipment.” explains Dan Weaver, ECM.
For years engineers have tried to put inductors on the ground line to eliminate ground transients, but suitable-rated inductors had too high dcR and were unable to cover a wide enough frequency range to be effective.
The GTT works by opposing changes in electron flow on the ground wire. This slows the damaging rise and fall time of a transient voltage wave form rather than clipping it off, controlling frequency rather than amplitude. The filter is designed to achieve sufficient attenuation in the frequency ban which covers interference, and minimal attenuation at 50/60Hz, thus eliminating transient surges on the ground wire.
The GTT is available in the hard-wired block version and can be custom-designed to fit any application. The line cord version is currently in development and scheduled for production this summer. Also under development is a lightning barrier device which integrates the GTT technology for use in cable television/satellite and security monitoring systems.
For more information, visit 9Corp.
