Black Box SP141A RS-232 Surge Protector DB25 4-Wire Serial with Avalanche-Diode Technology
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Product Features
Product Overview
The Black Box SP141A is a dedicated RS-232 serial surge protector designed to safeguard sensitive serial communication equipment from voltage spikes and transient surges. It employs a DB25 connector interface, making it directly compatible with a wide range of legacy and industrial serial devices that utilize this standard port.
This unit provides targeted protection for critical data and control lines, specifically shielding pins 2 (Receive Data), 3 (Transmit Data), 7 (Signal Ground), and 20 (Data Terminal Ready). Pin 1 is connected to the shield for comprehensive grounding. By integrating this protector into your serial line, you add a crucial layer of defense for equipment like point-of-sale systems, industrial controllers, and legacy data terminals, helping to prevent costly downtime and hardware damage.
Technical Overview
The SP141A utilizes extremely sensitive avalanche-diode technology to clamp transient overvoltages almost instantaneously. This design ensures rapid response to surge events, diverting harmful energy away from connected equipment before it can cause damage. A key technical benefit is the minimal insertion loss and signal degradation, preserving data integrity across the protected serial connection.
Constructed for reliability in business and industrial environments, the protector is built to relevant standards. It is environmentally compliant with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE), reflecting responsible manufacturing practices. The product is new and sourced from the United States, backed by a substantial 10-year limited warranty from Black Box, underscoring its durability and the manufacturer's confidence in its long-term performance.
Key Product Advantages
This surge protector delivers focused protection where it's needed most on serial lines, offering advantages that generic power strips cannot provide.
Precision Protection
Targets specific RS-232 data and control pins (2, 3, 7, 20) essential for communication, rather than offering blanket protection that may not address the unique vulnerabilities of serial interfaces.
- Protects critical Tx, Rx, and control lines
- Shield connection via Pin 1 for noise rejection
Signal Integrity
Engineered to clamp surges without introducing significant attenuation or distortion to the serial data signals, ensuring reliable communication continues uninterrupted during normal operation.
- Ultra-fast avalanche-diode response
- Maintains data integrity across the link
Long-Term Value
The 10-year warranty and robust construction translate into a low total cost of ownership, protecting your investment in connected serial equipment over many years of service.
- Extended manufacturer warranty
- Built for continuous operation
Deployment / Use Cases
The Black Box SP141A is ideal for any environment where RS-232 serial equipment is exposed to electrical noise or potential surge events. Its deployment is straightforward, simply installed in-line between the serial port of a computer, server, or controller and the connected peripheral device.
Common applications include protecting point-of-sale terminals, barcode scanners, and receipt printers in retail settings; safeguarding programmable logic controllers (PLCs), HMIs, and sensor interfaces in manufacturing and industrial automation; and securing legacy data communication links in telecommunications, banking, or facility management systems. It is a critical component for hardening serial infrastructure against unpredictable power quality issues.
Highlights
- Protects specific RS-232 pins: 2, 3, 7, and 20.
- Uses fast-acting avalanche-diode surge suppression technology.
- Ensures minimal signal loss and data integrity.
- Features a standard DB25 male/female connector.
- Compliant with WEEE environmental directives.
- Backed by a 10-year limited warranty.
- Manufactured in the United States.
- Designed for in-line installation on serial data lines.
Specifications
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Black Box Corporation |
| Manufacturer Part Number | SP141A |
| Brand Name | Black Box |
| Product Model | SP141A |
| Product Name | RS-232 Surge Protector, DB25, 4-Wire Serial, DB25, 4-Wire Serial |
| Product Condition | New |
| Product Type | Surge Suppressor/Protector |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Environmentally Friendly | Yes |
| Environmental Compliance | Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) |
| Warranty | |
| Limited Warranty | 10 Year |
User Manual
FAQ
What specific pins does the SP141A RS-232 surge protector protect?
The Black Box SP141A provides surge protection for pins 2 (Receive Data), 3 (Transmit Data), 7 (Signal Ground), and 20 (Data Terminal Ready) on a DB25 connector. Pin 1 is connected to the shield for grounding. This targeted protection covers the core data and essential control lines used in typical RS-232 communication.
What technology does this surge protector use, and why is it effective?
It employs extremely sensitive avalanche-diode technology. This component reacts almost instantaneously to voltage spikes above a safe threshold, clamping the excess voltage to a safe level by diverting the surge energy to ground. This rapid response is crucial for protecting sensitive electronic circuits in serial devices from damage.
Will installing this protector affect my serial data signal quality?
No, it is designed for minimal signal loss. The avalanche-diode circuitry and careful design ensure that during normal operation (when no surge is present), the protector introduces negligible attenuation or distortion to the serial data signals. Your communication integrity is maintained while gaining surge protection.
What type of connector does the SP141A use, and what equipment is it compatible with?
It uses a standard DB25 connector, which is a common interface for legacy RS-232 serial ports. This makes it compatible with a wide array of equipment including older computers, industrial controllers (PLCs), point-of-sale systems, barcode scanners, and various data terminal equipment that utilize DB25 serial ports for communication.
What is the warranty coverage for the Black Box SP141A surge protector?
The product is covered by a 10-year limited warranty from Black Box. This extensive warranty period reflects the manufacturer's confidence in the durability and reliability of the component, providing long-term assurance and value for your investment in protecting critical serial equipment.
Is this product environmentally compliant?
Yes, the SP141A is environmentally compliant with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE). This means its manufacture and end-of-life disposal adhere to regulations aimed at reducing the environmental impact of electronic waste, supporting responsible recycling and material recovery practices.
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