Gas Discharge Tube use

[lixnig]

What is the proper way to connect a GDT in a circuit to protect against large surges in a system? Is it simply from supply rail to ground so as to shunt the surge away from the equipment?

Secondly, hooking up a GDT across an AC source with a magnitude high enough to cause the GDT to conduct would cause the device to see a very shortened life. Is that correct?

Chris

 

[FvM]

A manufacturer specifies:

Surge arresters must not be operated directly in power supply networks.

More generally, they must not be operated in situations, where the discharge isn't self-quenching.

 

[gavin23]

If its a power supply you'd like to protect MOVs are typically the way to go. GDT's are typically used on communication lines due to their very low capacitance (or low insertion loss).

-Gavin