DEHN Equivalents — Surge Protection Cross-Reference
If a consultant’s drawing names DEHNventil or DEHNguard and you want to know which Citel device carries the same published rating, this page answers it type by type. We are not an authorised DEHN distributor. DEHN and the product names on this page are trademarks of DEHN SE, used here only to identify products a buyer may be searching for. We are authorised distributors for Veedol, GS Caltex, Balmer Lawrie, SELCO, Ador Welding, HD Fire and Citel. We are authorised distributors for CITEL, and every comparison below is stated on the published IEC 61643 type and the published electrical ratings. Where the two ranges genuinely differ — and on Type 3 and on photovoltaic they do — the page says so instead of rounding it off.
How to Cross-Refer a Surge Protective Device Properly
Four Numbers Decide It, Not the Brand
An SPD is interchangeable when it matches on IEC 61643-11 type (1, 2 or 3), the discharge current (Iimp in 10/350 µs for Type 1, In and Imax in 8/20 µs for Type 2), the voltage protection level Up, and the maximum continuous operating voltage Uc. Everything else — module colour, mounting style, brand reputation — is commentary.
Up Is the Number That Protects the Equipment
Iimp gets quoted in tenders because it is the big number, but Up is what decides whether the equipment downstream survives. A Type 1 device rated 50 kA with Up of 4 kV protects less well than one rated 25 kA with Up of 1.5 kV, if the equipment’s withstand is 2.5 kV. Compare Up against the impulse withstand category of what you are protecting, then check the current rating is adequate for the location.
DEHN Publish Iimp Per Pole
Worth knowing before you compare anything. DEHN publish Iimp per pole. Some makers publish a total across all poles, which produces a much larger and much less comparable number. When we cross-refer we state which basis each figure is on.
Photovoltaic Moved to a Different Standard
DEHN’s DEHNcube datasheet cites EN/IEC 61643-31 — the photovoltaic-specific standard — while their earlier YPV parts are published as Type 2 / Class II. Citel publish IEC 61643-31 across the current PV range too. Any PV comparison has to name which standard each device was tested to, because 61643-11 and 61643-31 are not interchangeable claims.
Data and Signal Devices Are Not Type 1, 2 or 3 At All
BLITZDUCTOR and DEHNpatch are tested to IEC 61643-21, the telecom and signalling standard, with categories such as D1 and C2. They do not carry an IEC 61643-11 type and a cross-reference that gives them one is wrong. The Citel equivalents — the DLA and MJ8 ranges — are also 61643-21 devices, so the comparison is valid; it just is not a Type comparison.
Authorised Citel Distributor, Stocked in Secunderabad
We are authorised Citel distributors with stock in Secunderabad and pan-India dispatch. Test certificates, declarations of conformity and datasheets with despatch; GeM and Udyam registered.
Type by Type — DEHN Device, Published Rating, Citel Equivalent
Type 1 lightning current arrester — DEHNbloc
DEHN publish DEHNbloc M 1 255 as type 1 / class I, Iimp 50 kA (10/350 µs) per pole, Up ≤ 2.5 kV, Uc 255 V; and DEHNbloc H / DBH M 1 255 at Iimp 50 kA with Up ≤ 4 kV. The Citel comparison is DS500E-230, published as Type 1+2 with Iimp 50 kA, In 50 kA, Imax 200 kA, Up 1.8 kV and Uc 255 Vac. Same Iimp and same Uc, with a lower published Up and a Type 2 rating included in the same device.
Type 1+2+3 combined arrester — DEHNventil
This is the cleanest match on the page. DEHN publish DEHNventil modular DV M2 TNC 255 FM as type 1+2+3 / class I+II+III, Iimp 25 kA, Up ≤ 1.5 kV, Uc 255 V. Citel publish DS250VG-300 as Type 1+2+3, Iimp 25 kA, In 30 kA, Imax 70 kA, Up 1.5 kV, Uc 255 Vac. Identical on all four decisive figures. Where a higher Iimp is called for, Citel publish DACN1-35VGS-10-440 at Iimp 35 kA, Up 1.8 kV, Uc 440 Vac.
Type 2 surge arrester — DEHNguard
DEHN publish DEHNguard modular DG M TNC 275 as type 2 / class II, In 20 kA, Imax 40 kA, Up ≤ 1.5 kV, Uc 275 V, in pluggable modules. Citel’s Type 2 pluggable range is the DAC series — DAC50S at In 20 kA / Imax 50 kA with Up 0.9 kV, and DAC80S at In 40 kA / Imax 80 kA with Up 1.2 kV. Both are published with a lower Up than the DEHNguard figure. The one thing to settle at enquiry is Uc: the DAC part numbers are Uc-specific and we will quote the variant matching your system voltage rather than assume it.
Type 2+3 — where DEHN and Citel line up
DEHN’s DG MD series is published as type 2+3 / class II+III — DG MD TNS 275 at In 20 kA, Imax 40 kA, Up ≤ 1.5 kV. Citel publish DAC50VGS-10-150 as Type 2+3 at In 20 kA, Imax 50 kA, Up 1.5 kV. A like-for-like comparison, and the usual answer where a sub-distribution board needs both duties in one device.
Type 3 — where they do not line up, and we will say so
DEHN publish genuine Class III devices: DEHNflex M at In 1.5 kA / Imax 3 kA and DEHNrail modular DR M 2P 255 at In 3 kA. Citel do not publish a pure Type 3 category — their catalogue offers “Type 2 (or 3)” and “Type 2+3”. So if your specification demands a standalone Class III device at the socket or at a single item of equipment, the honest answer is that the Citel DAC50VGS or DAC15CS covers the duty as a Type 2+3 rather than as a Type 3, and if the specification is written strictly you should say so to the consultant before ordering. We would rather tell you that now.
Photovoltaic DC — the YPV SCI range
DEHN publish DG M YPV SCI 1000 as type 2 / class II, In 12.5 kA, Imax 25 kA, Up ≤ 4 kV, Ucpv 1000 V, and the 1200 V variant at Up ≤ 4.5 kV. Citel publish DS50PVS-1000G/12KT1 as Type 1+2 PV with Iimp 6.25 kA per pole (12.5 kA total), In 15 kA and Imax 40 kA per pole, Ucpv 1200 Vdc, and separate Up figures of 4.6 kV pole-to-pole and 2.6 kV pole-to-earth. Two cautions: Citel publish Up per mode where DEHN publish a single figure, and the Citel current is per pole with a stated total. Compare mode to mode and pole to pole, or the numbers will mislead you.
Data, signal and Ethernet
DEHN BLITZDUCTOR XT modules are IEC 61643-21 devices with Iimp 10 kA at 10/350 µs and SPD classes such as B, M and L; DEHNpatch DPA M CAT6 protects Ethernet at Iimp 1 kA per line and In 10 kA total. The Citel comparisons are the DLA DIN-rail range — DLA-06D2 at In 10 kA and Imax 20 kA — and MJ8-C6A for Cat5/Cat6 at In 2 kA per pair and 16 kA across eight wires. These are IEC 61643-21 comparisons, not Type 1/2/3 comparisons, and anyone presenting them as Type equivalences has misread the standard.
What DEHN and Citel Each Do Differently
Pluggable against monobloc
A real difference and worth knowing before you specify. DEHN’s DEHNguard and DEHNventil are pluggable — the protection module lifts out of the base without disturbing the wiring. Citel’s DAC series is pluggable, but DS250VG, DS250E, DS500E and the DACN1 range are monobloc. If your maintenance philosophy depends on module replacement without a shutdown, specify the DAC series and say so at enquiry.
Citel VG technology
Citel’s own words: VG is “CITEL’s exclusive and patented technology based on the use of a specific type of Gas-filled Spark Gap (GSG) coordinated with a specific Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV)”. The claims Citel publish for it are no follow-on current, no ageing, increased temporary overvoltage withstand and easier coordination. Individual VG part pages carry a “No leakage current” feature line. Where a plant has had varistor-only SPDs age out and fail short, this is the technical argument worth having.
Citel CTC disconnection
Citel publish CTC — Central Thermal Control as their disconnection technology, described as “safer, faster, and more compact than previous disconnectors”, with all-pole disconnection and a dual mechanism, and standard on the DPVN photovoltaic series. DEHN use their own thermal disconnection and short-circuit-resistant designs. Both address the same failure mode; the mechanisms differ and each maker publishes their own.
Uc is the figure most often mismatched
A 275 V DEHNguard and a 150 V Citel DAC are not alternatives — they are for different system voltages. Citel encode Uc in the part number (DAC50S-10-150). Tell us the system voltage and whether the neutral is distributed and we will quote the correct variant, rather than matching on the headline current and leaving you to discover the rest.
Coordination between stages
A Type 1 at the incomer and a Type 2 at the sub-board only work together if they are coordinated — either by cable length between them, typically 10 metres, or by a decoupling element, or by using devices the maker publishes as coordinated. Mixing brands across stages is where coordination quietly stops being guaranteed, because neither maker has tested the combination. If you are replacing one stage of an existing DEHN installation, raise this.
IEC 61643-11 against the old B/C/D letters
Older Indian drawings still say Class B, C and D, from the withdrawn German standard DIN VDE 0675-6. Class B is Type 1 (10/350 µs at the incomer), Class C is Type 2 (8/20 µs at the sub-board), Class D is Type 3 (combination wave at the equipment). If your drawing uses letters, translate to Types before comparing any two devices.
Where We Deliver
The belts below describe where we deliver — they are the industrial clusters inside our service radius, not a customer list. The companies we have supplied are listed on our about page.
- Hyderabad and Secunderabad: Balanagar, Jeedimetla, Medchal, Patancheru, Bollaram, Cherlapally and Uppal — same-day dispatch on stocked lines.
- Telangana and Andhra Pradesh: Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Vijayawada on scheduled consolidated deliveries.
- Chennai, Bengaluru and Pune: Through our group network with consolidated billing.
- Pan-India: Three to seven working days on stocked lines. Sourced items carry the lead time quoted at order.
How We Handle a DEHN Cross-Reference Enquiry
Send the Part Number, Get the Four Numbers Compared
Send the DEHN designation from the drawing or the device and we return the published type, Iimp or In/Imax, Up and Uc for both devices side by side, with the basis of each figure stated. Where they differ, we show the difference rather than the conclusion.
We Read the Specification Clause, Not Just the Part Number
Consultants’ specifications sometimes name a brand and sometimes name a performance. Which one yours does decides whether this is a supply question or a technical-submission question, and we will tell you which before quoting.
Selection From the Installation, Not the Catalogue
The right device depends on the lightning protection zone boundary, the earthing arrangement (TN-C, TN-S or TT), the system voltage, the impulse withstand of what is downstream and the available fault current. Send a single-line diagram and we will size it properly.
Technical Submission Documentation
Citel datasheets, declarations of conformity and test certificates in the format a consultant will accept for approval, so the submission does not come back for missing paperwork.
Coordination Check on Multi-Stage Installations
If you are replacing one stage of an existing installation and leaving another in place, we will check the coordination rather than assume it. This is the step most commonly skipped and the one most likely to cause a nuisance failure later.
We Will Say When Not to Switch
If your specification names DEHN by brand and the technical submission is already approved, changing supplier means a fresh submission and possible delay. Sometimes that is worth it and sometimes it is not, and we will tell you which we think it is.
DEHN Cross-Reference Enquiries — Secunderabad
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you a DEHN distributor?
No. We are not an authorised DEHN distributor. DEHN and the product names on this page are trademarks of DEHN SE, used here only to identify products a buyer may be searching for. We are authorised distributors for Veedol, GS Caltex, Balmer Lawrie, SELCO, Ador Welding, HD Fire and Citel. We are authorised distributors for CITEL, and every comparison below is stated on the published IEC 61643 type and the published electrical ratings. If you need the genuine DEHN product, DEHN publish their own distributor network and that is the right route.
What is the Citel equivalent of DEHNventil DV M2 TNC 255?
On published figures, Citel DS250VG-300 matches it on all four decisive numbers: both are Type 1+2+3, both publish Iimp 25 kA, both publish Up 1.5 kV, and both are rated Uc 255 V. The DS250VG additionally publishes In 30 kA and Imax 70 kA. The practical difference is construction — DEHNventil is pluggable, DS250VG is monobloc. If module-swap maintenance matters to you, say so and we will discuss the DAC series instead.
What is the equivalent of DEHNguard DG M TNC 275?
DEHNguard modular is Type 2, In 20 kA, Imax 40 kA, Up ≤ 1.5 kV, Uc 275 V, pluggable. Citel’s pluggable Type 2 range is the DAC series — DAC50S at In 20 kA / Imax 50 kA with a published Up of 0.9 kV, or DAC80S at In 40 kA / Imax 80 kA with Up 1.2 kV. Both publish a lower Up than the DEHNguard. The part number encodes Uc, so tell us your system voltage and whether the neutral is distributed and we will quote the matching variant.
I need a Type 3 device. Does Citel make one?
Not as a standalone category, and we would rather tell you plainly. Citel’s catalogue publishes “Type 2 (or 3)” and “Type 2+3” devices — DAC50VGS at In 20 kA, Imax 50 kA and Up 1.5 kV, and DAC15CS and DACN10S at lower ratings. These cover the terminal-equipment duty, and a Type 2+3 device satisfies most specifications written for a Type 3 position. But if your consultant has written “Type 3 to IEC 61643-11” strictly, that wording is best clarified with them before you order rather than after.
DEHN quote Iimp 50 kA and Citel quote 25 kA. Is the DEHN better?
Not necessarily, and this is where SPD comparison usually goes wrong. Two things to check. First, whether both figures are on the same basis — DEHN publish Iimp per pole, and some makers publish a total across poles, which is a bigger and less comparable number. Second, and more important, look at Up. The device with the lower Up clamps harder and protects the downstream equipment better. A 50 kA device with Up of 4 kV is the wrong choice ahead of equipment with a 2.5 kV withstand, whatever the headline number says. Size Iimp for the location and lightning risk; choose on Up.
Can I replace one DEHN device in an existing installation with a Citel?
Usually yes, but check the coordination first. A Type 1 at the incomer and a Type 2 downstream only work as a system if they are coordinated — by at least the cable length the makers specify, typically 10 metres, or by a decoupling element, or by using a set the maker publishes as coordinated. Neither DEHN nor Citel have tested the mixed combination. If you are changing one stage and leaving the other, send us the single-line diagram and we will check it rather than assume it.
What about BLITZDUCTOR for data lines?
BLITZDUCTOR XT and DEHNpatch are tested to IEC 61643-21, the telecom and signalling standard, not to 61643-11 — so they do not carry a Type 1, 2 or 3 rating at all, and any cross-reference giving them one is misreading the standard. Citel’s equivalents are the DLA DIN-rail range and MJ8 for Cat5 and Cat6 Ethernet, also to IEC 61643-21. Tell us the signal type, the operating voltage and the data rate — those determine the choice far more than the surge rating does.
Do you publish DEHN prices?
No. Manufacturer price lists circulated to distributor networks are confidential and republishing one would be wrong whoever it belonged to. Send us the DEHN part number and we will quote the Citel equivalent with the specification comparison alongside it.
Send us the DEHN part number from the drawing
We will return the published type, Iimp or In and Imax, Up and Uc for both devices side by side, with the basis of every figure stated. If the honest answer is that the specification needs clarifying with your consultant before anything is ordered, that is what we will tell you.