3EK4
MV Surge Arrester 3EK4, Silicone rubber, cage design, 10 kA, Ur ≤36 kV, Arc Protection System (APS) versions
3EK4
- Metal-oxide surge arrester for medium-voltage distribution networks — protects distribution transformers, cables, switchgear and overhead lines; member of the 3EK polymer-housed distribution-class family with Cage Design introduced in 1998
- Cage design: silicone rubber sheds directly moulded onto the metal-oxide blocks and end-fittings, with the MOV column held in a cage of FRP rods — void-free sealing, no separate housing-to-active-part interface
- IEC 60099-4 versions: nominal discharge current 10 kA, arrester designation DH, short-circuit rating 20 kA, charge transfer rating Qrs 0.4 C, thermal charge transfer rating Qth 1.1 C, rated voltages 6–36 kV
- Arc Protection System (APS) versions — nested electrodes at both ends rotate the fault arc around the housing to mitigate molten-metal formation and wildfire risk; fulfils the requirements of the Cal Fire Power Line Fire Prevention Field Guide (2008); optional red visible-failure indicator; first 3EK4 APS units delivered to US customers in 2015
- Ordered today as IEEE heavy-duty and riser-pole APS units (duty cycle/MCOV 6/5.1, 10/8.4 and 18/15.3 kV) — 189 SAP order lines across 22 materials from 2015 through June 2026
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3EK4 covers up to 36 kV of the mv distribution arresters range (≤ 72.5 kV across the category, √ scale).
Specifications
Main
| Product family | 3EK4 |
| Product type | Metal-oxide surge arrester, silicone-rubber cage design |
| Application | Medium-voltage distribution networks; APS versions for regions with elevated fire risk (e.g. western USA, South Australia) |
| Protected equipment | Distribution transformers, cables/riser poles, MV switchgear, overhead distribution lines |
| Versions | IEC 60099-4 (…-1C…), IEEE C62.11 heavy duty and riser pole, optionally with Arc Protection System (APS) |
| Construction | Cage of FRP rods around the metal-oxide blocks; silicone rubber sheds directly moulded onto blocks and end-fittings |
Electrical (IEC 60099-4 versions)
| Rated voltage Ur | 6–36 kV |
| Continuous operating voltage Uc | 4.8–28.8 kV (0.8 × Ur) |
| Nominal discharge current In | 10 kA |
| Arrester designation | DH (distribution, high duty) |
| Short-circuit current rating | 20 kA |
| Charge transfer rating Qrs (IEC 60099-4 Ed. 3) | 0.4 C |
| Thermal charge transfer rating Qth (IEC 60099-4 Ed. 3) | 1.1 C |
| Residual voltage Ures at 10 kA, 8/20 µs (examples) | 15.9 kV (Ur 6 kV) · 31.8 kV (Ur 12 kV) · 63.6 kV (Ur 24 kV) · 95.4 kV (Ur 36 kV) |
IEEE / Arc Protection System (APS) versions
| Standard | IEEE C62.11 |
| Duty classes ordered | Heavy duty (HD) and riser pole (RP), with APS |
| Duty-cycle voltage / MCOV pairs (SAP-ordered units) | 6/5.1 kV · 10/8.4 kV · 18/15.3 kV |
| Arc Protection System | Nested electrodes at both end-fittings generate a magnetic field that rotates the fault arc around the housing, mitigating molten-metal formation at the end fittings and lowering fire-ignition risk |
| Fire-safety compliance | Fulfils the requirements of the Cal Fire Power Line Fire Prevention Field Guide (2008), passed with 100% compliance; substantially lower spark production rate than arresters without APS |
| Failure indication (option) | Visible fault feature — red indicator appears at the bottom end of the arrester in the event of a failure |
| APS availability | Offered for 3EK4 and 3EK7 arresters; first 3EK4 APS units delivered to customers in the USA in 2015 |
Mechanical / environment
| Housing material | silicone |
| Design | Silicone-rubber cage design; sheds directly moulded on blocks and end-fittings |
| Height (IEC versions, housing sizes B…R) | 96–320 mm |
| Creepage distance (IEC versions) | 280–1,200 mm |
| Short-term load SSL (IEC versions) | 780–2,600 N (decreasing with housing size) |
| Weight (example, 3EK4090-1CC4) | 1.2 kg |
| Terminals (per dimension drawing) | Stud terminals — M12 (IEC) / 3/8-16 UNC (IEEE) |
| Mounting options | Direct stud mounting, insulating brackets (NEMA P12 / DIN P22), metal bracket, transformer brackets, cross-arm bracket, mounting plate; disconnector and bird-protection cap available |
Options & variants
IEC rows are the official Siemens material-master ratings texts for the 3EK4 IEC series (catalog HG 31.1), re-confirmed field-by-field on two independent distributor mirrors of the Siemens data feed (zwodltd.com for 3EK4090-1CC4 incl. catalog-id HG31.1, weight 1.2 kg and PLM status PM300:Active; simatix.ru for the remaining IEC types). The five IEEE APS rows are the real SAP order materials (ZY96 = APS special versions): 3EK41054AC4ZY96 'Surge Arrester 10/8.4 KV, RP APS' (50 lines), 3EK41051AC4ZY96 'Surge Arrester 10/8.4 kV, APS' (36), 3EK41804AK4ZY96 'Surge Arrester 18/15.3 KV, RP APS' (21), 3EK41801AJ4ZY96 'Surge Arrester 18/15.3 kV, APS' (16), 3EK40601AC4ZY96 'Surge Arrester 6/5.1 KV, HD APS' (11) — duty-cycle/MCOV taken verbatim from the SAP descriptions; dimensional data for the APS builds is not in the available sources and is left blank rather than inferred.
| Order no. | Standard | Ur / duty-cycle voltage (kV) | Uc / MCOV (kV) | Ures @ 10 kA 8/20 µs (kV) | Height | Creepage distance | SSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3EK4060-1CB4 | IEC 60099-4 | 6 | 4.8 | 15.9 | 96 mm | 280 mm | 2,600 N |
| 3EK4090-1CC4 | IEC 60099-4 | 9 | 7.2 | 23.9 | 137 mm | 420 mm | 1,820 N |
| 3EK4120-1CC4 | IEC 60099-4 | 12 | 9.6 | 31.8 | 137 mm | 420 mm | 1,820 N |
| 3EK4180-1CJ4 | IEC 60099-4 | 18 | 14.4 | 47.7 | 204 mm | 690 mm | 1,220 N |
| 3EK4210-1CJ4 | IEC 60099-4 | 21 | 16.8 | 55.7 | 204 mm | 690 mm | 1,220 N |
| 3EK4240-1CK4 | IEC 60099-4 | 24 | 19.2 | 63.6 | 234 mm | 820 mm | 1,060 N |
| 3EK4270-1CK4 | IEC 60099-4 | 27 | 21.6 | 71.6 | 234 mm | 820 mm | 1,060 N |
| 3EK4300-1CM4 | IEC 60099-4 | 30 | 24.0 | 79.5 | 270 mm | 960 mm | 920 N |
| 3EK4360-1CR4 | IEC 60099-4 | 36 | 28.8 | 95.4 | 320 mm | 1,200 mm | 780 N |
| 3EK40601AC4ZY96 | IEEE C62.11 HD, APS | 6 | 5.1 | — | — | — | — |
| 3EK41051AC4ZY96 | IEEE C62.11, APS | 10 | 8.4 | — | — | — | — |
| 3EK41054AC4ZY96 | IEEE C62.11 RP, APS | 10 | 8.4 | — | — | — | — |
| 3EK41801AJ4ZY96 | IEEE C62.11, APS | 18 | 15.3 | — | — | — | — |
| 3EK41804AK4ZY96 | IEEE C62.11 RP, APS | 18 | 15.3 | — | — | — | — |
Compatible accessories
Line terminals
Line clamp
Line terminals
L-bracket line terminal
Line terminals
Line clamp, alternative type
Protection
Bird protection cap
Brackets
Insulating bracket (NEMA)
Brackets
Insulating bracket (DIN)
Transformer brackets
Transformer bracket
Transformer brackets
Transformer bracket
Transformer brackets
Transformer bracket
Pole mounting
Cross-arm (X-arm) bracket
Leads
Line and earth lead
Disconnector
Disconnector (IEC and IEEE versions)
Documents & downloads
Dimension drawing 3EK4 dimension drawings incl. disconnector and insulating bracket — IEC and IEEE versions
Dimension drawing 3EK4 IEEE version — overall dimensions
Also covered in the technical library
Catalog Medium-Voltage Surge Arresters — Product Catalogue
Brochure Our portfolio of surge arresters & composite insulators — Siemens Energy
Ordered designations
Representative orderable type designations of this family — searchable via the catalog search.
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3EJ0