New From Dairyland: Overwatch™ HEFPD

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
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Railroads often share their rights-of-way with overhead power transmission or distribution systems, which can make wayside C&S and other electrical equipment (track circuits, signals, crossing warning systems) susceptible to damage from high-energy, long-duration events such as power utility equipment failures that most lighting surge protective devices are not capable of withstanding. The Overwatch™ HEFPD product line from Madison, Wisc.-base Dairyland Electrical Industries is designed to protect the railroad from damaging AC faults “with rugged, engineered AC fault protection.”

Overwatch™ HEFPD is described as “a new class of product in the railroad industry designed with Dairyland’s decades of experience in high-energy applications. It uses proven solid-state technology that can withstand the powerful, long-duration events caused by AC faults to keep sensitive track-connected equipment protected.”

Overwatch™ HEFPD, Dairyland says, provides protection from both high-energy AC faults and lightning surges. It’s designed and tested to meet AREMA standard 11.3.7, as well as the applicable requirements of primary surge protection as defined in AREMA 11.3.1; and built to withstand multiple AC fault or lightning surge events without failure. Dairyland’s “proven solid-state design prevents sparks and arcing” and features “extensive third-party testing and verification.”

“Simply put, Dairyland knows AC fault and over-voltage protection,” says President Mike Tachick. “This has been our business for 40 years. We’ve had a similar product serving the rail industry for years, but the Overwatch™ HEFPD is specifically designed and tested to meet the demanding guidelines identified in AREMA’s new manual part to address high-energy faults. Today, we welcome the opportunity to serve railroad clients and consultants with this robust solution.”

“Over a range of industries and applications, Dairyland has been applying the concepts of isolation, grounding and over-voltage protection to standard and custom products since 1983,” the company notes. “Dairyland deals with a wide variety of applications across multiple industries including oil and gas, power utility, railroads and others where it is necessary to provide simultaneous isolation and safety grounding. Dairyland products isolate DC current, ground AC fault current and lightning, and protect equipment and personnel.”

Download the Overwatch™ HEFPD Application Guide

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