This standard applies to low-voltage gas discharge tube (GDT ) surge-protective components for application on systems with voltages less than or equal to 1000 V rms or 1500 V dc. These protective components are designed to limit voltage surges on balanced or unbalanced communication circuits and on power circuits operating from dc to 420 Hz. This standard contains a series of standard test criteria for determining the electrical characteristics and ratings of gas discharge tube surge-protective components.

This standard applies to low voltage gas discharge tube (GDT ) surge-protective components for application on systems with voltages less than or equal to 1000 V rms or 1500 V dc. These protective components are designed to limit voltage surges on balanced or unbalanced communication circuits and on power circuits operating from dc to 420 Hz. This standard contains a series of standard test criteria for determining the electrical characteristics and ratings of gas discharge tube surge-protective components. The tests in this standard are intended as design tests as defined in the IEEE Standards Dictionary Online and provide a means of comparison among various gas discharge tube surge-protective components. Gas discharge tubes are used to provide over-voltage protection in electrical circuits. When the breakdown (sparkover) voltage of the gas discharge tube is exceeded, the normal high-impedance state of the tube changes to a low-impedance state to allow the gas discharge tube to conduct...