Medium Voltage Surge Arresters.
Metal-oxide surge arresters for the 5kV–35kV class — distribution, intermediate, and station class, in overhead, riser-pole, and dead-front configurations, designed and tested to IEEE C62.11 for utility, industrial, renewable, and data center systems.
- Voltage class
- 5–35kV
- Manufacturers
- 3
- Arrester classes
- 3
Manufacturers.
IEEE C62.11 classes.
IEEE C62.11 is the primary standard governing metal-oxide surge arresters on AC power circuits above 1kV. It classifies arresters by construction — with energy-handling capability and protective margin increasing from distribution to station class.
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IEEE C62.11
The governing standard — design tests, routine tests, and classification for metal-oxide surge arresters that repeatedly limit overvoltage surges on power circuits above 1kV by diverting surge current to ground.
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Station class
The highest energy-handling capability and the best protective characteristics — applied at substations and on equipment where the cost of an insulation failure is highest.
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Intermediate class
Between station and distribution in energy handling and protective margin — applied where distribution-class margins are not enough but full station-class duty is not required.
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Distribution class
The class applied across overhead and underground distribution — subdivided heavy duty, normal duty, and light duty by the impulse current the arrester must withstand.
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IEEE C62.22
The companion application guide — how arresters are selected and coordinated so the protective level stays below the insulation withstand (BIL) of the protected equipment.
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IEEE 386
Dead-front elbow, parking-stand, and bushing arresters connect to padmount and vault systems through 200 A IEEE 386 separable-connector interfaces — the same loadbreak interfaces covered under Elbow Connectors.
Mounting configurations.
Overhead distribution
Polymer-housed MOV arresters mounted at transformers, reclosers, capacitor banks, and line positions on overhead distribution. Heavy-duty and normal-duty distribution classes are matched to the feeder's lightning exposure.
Riser pole
Applied where an overhead line transitions to underground cable, protecting the cable dip. Heavy-duty riser designs use a larger-diameter MOV disc for improved protective levels at the cable.
Dead-front / elbow
Fully shielded, fully submersible MOV arresters in elbow, parking-stand, and bushing styles — connecting to padmount and vault equipment through 200 A IEEE 386 loadbreak interfaces.
FAQ.
What is a surge arrester?
A surge arrester is a protective device that limits transient overvoltages — from lightning, switching, and other system events — by diverting surge current to ground, then returning to a non-conducting state at normal operating voltage.
Modern medium-voltage arresters use metal-oxide varistor (MOV) blocks with no series gap, and are designed and tested to IEEE C62.11 and applied using the guidance in IEEE C62.22.
What is MCOV?
MCOV is the maximum continuous operating voltage — the highest power-frequency voltage that may be applied continuously across the arrester. It is typically 80% to 90% of the arrester's duty-cycle rating and is a primary selection parameter.
The duty-cycle rating is the arrester's assigned voltage rating, demonstrated by the duty-cycle test in IEEE C62.11.
What is the difference between distribution, intermediate, and station class arresters?
IEEE C62.11 classifies arresters by construction, with energy-handling capability and protective margin increasing from distribution to station class.
Distribution class is applied across overhead and underground distribution and is subdivided heavy, normal, and light duty. Intermediate class sits between the two. Station class provides the highest energy handling and the best protective characteristics, and is applied at substations and high-value equipment.
How is a surge arrester coordinated with the equipment it protects?
The arrester is selected so its protective voltage level stays below the BIL of the protected equipment, while its MCOV exceeds the continuous system voltage it sees — a function of the system's maximum voltage and grounding configuration.
IEEE C62.22 provides the application guidance for this coordination. Send what you have through Contact and Hawk MV Supply will match it against the project documents.
Which manufacturers does Hawk carry for surge arresters?
Hawk carries surge arrester products from Cooper Power Series (an Eaton brand), Elastimold (an ABB brand), ABB, and Richards.
Does Hawk publish surge arrester pricing or lead times?
No. Surge arresters are priced per project.
Send the system voltage and grounding configuration, the arrester class, the duty-cycle rating or MCOV, and the mounting through Contact — pricing and availability are confirmed once those are defined.
Sourcing surge arresters?
Send the system voltage and grounding configuration, the arrester class, the duty-cycle rating or MCOV, and the mounting — Hawk MV Supply will fill in the rest.
Metal-oxide surge arresters across the 5kV–35kV class.
Hawk MV Supply sources metal-oxide surge arresters for the full 5kV through 35kV class — distribution, intermediate, and station class, in overhead, riser-pole, and dead-front configurations. An arrester limits transient overvoltages by diverting surge current to ground, then returns to a non-conducting state at normal operating voltage; modern designs use gapless metal-oxide varistor blocks. Arresters are designed and tested to IEEE C62.11, the standard for metal-oxide surge arresters on AC power circuits above 1kV, and applied using the guidance in IEEE C62.22 so the protective level stays below the BIL of the protected equipment. An arrester is specified by voltage class, duty-cycle rating, MCOV, construction class, and mounting style; exact values are confirmed per project.
Surge arresters are installed wherever equipment must be protected from lightning and switching transients — at substations, transformers, switchgear, and cable circuits — across utility, industrial, renewable, and data center systems. Hawk carries surge arrester products from Cooper Power Series (an Eaton brand), Elastimold (an ABB brand), and ABB. Brand names and logos are the property of their respective owners; specifications shown are typical industry ranges, with product availability and exact values confirmed at quote.