The Schneider Electric A9L40101 is a Type 2 surge arrester from the Acti9 iPRD family, designed to protect electrical distribution networks against transient overvoltages. It uses MOV technology and a pluggable cartridge for easy replacement after a surge event. Rated for a maximum discharge current of 40 kA (common mode L/PE) and a nominal discharge current of 15 kA, it handles the energy from a direct lightning strike at the service entrance or sub-distribution board. The protection level Up is clamped below 1.4 kV (L/PE), which keeps the voltage seen by downstream equipment within safe limits for most industrial and commercial installations. The continuous operating voltage Uc is 350 V (L/PE and N/PE), and it withstands temporary overvoltages of 337 V L/N for 5 seconds, plus 1200 V N/PE for 200 ms in safe failure mode — meaning it survives a sustained swell without catastrophic failure.
The tunnel-type terminals accept 2.5 to 35 mm² conductors on both top and bottom, with a tightening torque of 2.5 N·m. A built-in remote signalling contact (1 C/O, rated 0.25 A / 250 V AC) reports the cartridge status to a PLC or building management system — useful for panels where the arrester is not visually accessible. Operating temperature range is -25 to 60 °C, storage -40 to 85 °C, with relative humidity 5 to 95 %. Rated for installation altitudes up to 2000 m.
Compatible earthing systems include TN-C and IT at 230 V. The arrester is designed for use with associated circuit breakers (iC60H, iC60N, NG125 series) or fuses (gG 63 A or 80 A) as a disconnector — the spec table lists the full range of compatible overcurrent devices.