The Schneider Electric A9L16687 is a Type 2 surge arrester cartridge from the Acti9 range, designated C20-340. It plugs into an iPRD base module and protects 230 V AC TN or TT distribution networks against transient overvoltages, clamping at a protection level below 1.1 kV.
Rated for a maximum discharge current of 20 kA (8/20 µs waveform) and a nominal discharge current of 5 kA — this is the surge-handling capacity for a Type 2 SPD installed at the sub-distribution board, not the main service entrance. The 340 V maximum continuous operating voltage (Uc) suits 230/400 V TN and TT systems where the line-to-neutral voltage stays below that ceiling. Response time under 25 ns means the MOV-based cartridge clamps fast enough to protect sensitive electronics downstream, provided the SPD is wired with short (<0.5 m) leads to the busbar — long pigtails add inductance that slows the effective clamping. The cartridge carries a visual flag indicator (white/red) on the front face, so a panel walk-through shows at a glance whether the element has degraded or needs replacement.
Physical integration
The cartridge measures 18 mm wide, 50 mm high, and 60 mm deep — a single-module width on a DIN-rail-mounted iPRD base. The PBT housing is white (RAL 9003). It snaps into the base without tools and is retained by the base's own locking mechanism.