Gas Discharge Tube (GDT) is an overvoltage protection device based on the principle of gas ionization.
Features:
1. Large current capacity: able to withstand thousands of amperes of lightning surge current, with strong discharge capability.
2. High insulation resistance: The normal leakage current is extremely small (nA level), which hardly affects the operation of the circuit.
3. Small parasitic capacitance: suitable for protecting high-frequency and high-speed signal lines (such as Ethernet cables and RF).
4. Fast response speed: Typical response time ranges from nanoseconds to microseconds.
5. Stable voltage characteristics: good repeatability of breakdown voltage and stable protection accuracy.
6. Polarity free: Both ends can be connected freely, making it easy to use.
7. Disadvantage: After discharge, there may be continuous current (power frequency arc), which needs to be cut off in conjunction with the circuit; The response to extremely steep front surges is slightly slower.
Applications:
1. Lightning protection for communication equipment: telephone lines, network cables, coaxial cable interfaces, protecting MODEMs, routers, and switches.
2. Power system protection: AC/DC power input terminal, as a first level surge protection.
3. Electronic device interface: Cable TV, antenna, audio/video interface to prevent induced lightning strikes.
4. Industrial control: signal and power port protection for PLCs, sensors, and instruments.
5. Automotive electronics: Static and surge protection for onboard ECU and bus interfaces.