Key Takeaways
- TSX surge arrestors provide robust protection against lightning and transient surges while preserving RF signal quality.
- Their spiral inductor technology enables fast response and repeated surge handling without degradation.
- TSX devices are ideal for environments with flammable gases where safety and reliability are critical.
- Proper grounding, placement, and connector handling are essential for optimal performance.
- TSX arrestors are widely used in cellular, public safety, industrial, rail, and mission-critical RF systems.
Protection Against Lightning and Electrical Surges
Lightning strikes near antennas or transmission lines can induce very high voltage spikes that travel along coaxial feeds and enter connected equipment. The TSX series’s spiral inductor design enables surge energy to be diverted almost instantaneously, minimizing let-through energy and protecting radios and amplifiers from destructive transients.
Unlike basic gas tube or MOV-only surge protectors, TSX models are engineered to handle repeated strikes without performance degradation, thanks to their robust filter technology. This resilient design makes them well-suited for critical installations where downtime is unacceptable.
Why Surge Protection Matters in Flammable Gas Environments
In industrial spaces with flammable or explosive gases — such as oil & gas processing, petrochemical plants, and LNG facilities electrical safety is tightly regulated. Any electrical equipment must not only perform reliably but also prevent ignitions and withstand environmental hazards.
TSX surge arrestors contribute to safer installations by:
- Reducing transient electrical stress that could cause arcs or faults
- Helping maintain stable communications in critical monitoring and control systems
- Minimizing downtime in environments where hazardous gas presence demands high reliability
Certain TSX variants carry hazardous location certifications, providing peace of mind for engineers specifying RF protection for explosive atmospheres.
The first time you see an inline RF surge protector, you might think it’s a slightly oversized RF adapter.
However, looks can deceive.
Amazing things happen inside the utilitarian metal cylinder form factor, headlined by the ability to protect your wireless equipment from multiple lightning strikes. And surge arrestors that are designed to stand guard over hazardous work sites do double duty. They not only save your RF equipment from power surges, but they operate safely where flammable gases or vapors are present – such as oil and gas processing and distribution facilities, mining operations, manufacturing locations and other industrial sites.
A good example of these wonder devices are PolyPhaser’s TSX line of RF surge protectors. They check all the right boxes for lightning and surge protection. Underneath the humble shell is a patented spiral inductor that allows for an almost instantaneous response to a lightning surge or other destructive transient while maintaining the RF performance. These are used by major cellular carriers and in wireless communication systems employed by fire, police and emergency responders.
Our TSX surge arrestors don’t stop there. They also prevent RF components from sparking fires and explosions at hazardous locations. They perform to specs created by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 70®). Specifically, our TSX line meets the requirements for the NFPA’s Class I, Division 2, groups A, B, C and D, which are as follows:
- Class I: Flammable gases or vapors may be present
- Division 2: Locations where ignitable concentrations of hazards exist under abnormal operation conditions
- Group A – acetylene
- Group B – hydrogen, butadiene, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and acrolein
- Group C – ethylene, cyclopropane and ethyl ether
- Group D – acetone, ammonia, benzene, butane, ethanol, gasoline, hexane, methane, methanol, naphtha, natural gas, propane and toluene
Other Features of Our TSX Surge Arrestors
- Wide broadband frequency range from 698 MHz to 2.7 GHz
- Your choice of N Type, 7/16 DIN and 4.3-10 connector configurations
- Surge current rating of 40 kA
- Available with ultra-low PIM and DC pass (AISG)
- Repeatable RF performance after surge
- Weatherproof when installed
- Ideal for 4G and 5G applications
- UL497E certified
Contact us for more information on our line of TSX RF surge protectors
Recommendations for Using TSX Surge Arrestors
To ensure optimum protection and reliability:
- Install surge protectors at building or tower entry points to intercept surge energy before it reaches sensitive hardware.
- Match the protector’s frequency range to the application, for example, 698 MHz to 2.7 GHz for most cellular and CBRS systems.
- Choose the right connector type (N-type, 4.3-10, etc.) for your coaxial feed line to maintain impedance and performance.
- Ensure proper grounding and bonding. Low-impedance grounding improves surge diversion efficiency.
- Select hazardous-location models when equipment is near flammable gases or in industrial plants.
