Brute forces tamed in a useful way.
Visiting the new BET test center

„More and more thunderstorms: Lighning rods demanded like never bevore“, was to be read in the headline of a report of the German Press Agency (dpa). The dpa had interviewed Andreas König, sales manager for OBO lightning and surge protection. According to this, the BET testing center has expanded and moved into new premises. Even the West German Broadcasting (WDR) and the Second German Television (ZDF) have already reported on this OBO Institute.

As in the former address in the Mendener Fischkuhle, where only lighning current, environmental and electrical tests were possible, the BET testing center now is also responsible for testing cable tray systems. The testing generator allows lightning current tests up to 200 kA. It was developed in collaboration with Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jan Meppelink of the University of Applied Sciences in Soest, Germany.

The product unit TBS transient voltage and lightning protection systems claims most of the time of the testing generator. This includes development accompanying tests of new OBO products and modifications, as well as comparative tests of competitive products for lightning protection components, surge protection devices and lightning surge protectors. Tests for lightning protection components are according to DIN EN 50164-1 and isolating spark gap according to DIN EN 50164-3.

As well as lightning current tests also surge voltage tests can be performed up to 20 kV. This takes place in the hybrid generator, which also was developed together with the University of Applied Sciences in Soest, Germany, and which allows testing of data line protection devices. Therefore, the enlarged area for electricical testing of the new BET is being used. Here all types of cable tray systems up to eight meters in length can be examined without difficulties. For example, testing of the electrical conductivity according to DIN EN 61537 is possible.