
Whether the system can function normally after a surge test depends on the effectiveness of the power port protection circuit in absorbing and dissipating transient high energy. For ±2kV line-to-ground surges, a graded protection design is required. The first stage uses a varistor (MOV) or gas discharge tube (GDT) at the port to dissipate most of the energy. The second stage uses a series PTC resettable fuse for current limiting and a TVS diode for voltage clamping. The third stage can add an LC filter and voltage regulator circuit at the input front end of the DC-DC module. All protection devices must work in coordination; the MOV/GDT has a large current carrying capacity, and the TVS diode has a fast response. The PCB traces for the protection circuit must be wide, short, and well-grounded to avoid parasitic inductance affecting the protection effect, thus ensuring the system continues to operate normally after a surge.