OBO Bettermann Equivalents — Surge Protection Cross-Reference
If a drawing names OBO MCD 50-B, V25-B+C or V20-C 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 OBO Bettermann distributor. OBO Bettermann and the product names on this page are trademarks of OBO Bettermann Holding GmbH & Co. KG, 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 61643-11 type and the published electrical ratings. It also unpicks the two things that most often go wrong on an OBO comparison: the B/C letters in the part numbers, and the difference between a per-pole and a total current figure.
Two Traps Specific to Comparing OBO Devices
The B and C Letters Are Not IEC Types
OBO’s part numbers preserve the letters from the withdrawn German standard DIN VDE 0675-6: -B is Type 1, -C is Type 2, and -B+C is a combined Type 1+2. So V25-B+C is a Type 1+2 device, not a Type 2, and V20-C is a Type 2. We have seen V25-B+C specified as a Type 2 on Indian drawings and it is an expensive error in the wrong direction. Translate the letters before you compare anything.
Per-Pole Against Total Iimp
OBO publish both figures, which is honest but easy to misread. MCD 50-B 3+1 is 50 kA per pole and 125 kA total. If you compare OBO’s total against another maker’s per-pole number, you will conclude the OBO is two and a half times the device it actually is. Citel publish per pole with the total stated separately where it applies. We always say which basis a figure is on.
Four Numbers Decide It
An SPD is interchangeable when it matches on IEC 61643-11 type, the discharge current (Iimp at 10/350 µs for Type 1, In and Imax at 8/20 µs for Type 2), the voltage protection level Up, and the maximum continuous operating voltage Uc.
Up Protects the Equipment; Iimp Survives the Strike
Iimp is the number that gets quoted in tenders, but Up decides whether what is downstream survives. Compare Up against the impulse withstand of the protected equipment first, then confirm the current rating suits the location and the lightning risk.
One OBO Series to Check Before You Specify It
The older MC 50-B appears on drawings and in search results, but every live OBO product URL for it now returns not-found. The current device is MCD 50-B. If your specification names MC 50-B, that is worth raising with the consultant regardless of who supplies it.
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 — OBO Device, Published Rating, Citel Equivalent
Type 1+2 lightning current arrester — MCD 50-B
OBO publish MCD 50-B 3+1 as Type 1+2 / Class I+II, Iimp 50 kA per pole and 125 kA total at 10/350 µs, Up ≤ 1.7 kV line-to-neutral, Uc 255 V. 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 per pole, same Uc, and Up within 0.1 kV. MCD 50-B-OS-320 at Uc 320 V and Up < 1.3 kV is the higher-voltage variant, and we would quote the matching Citel Uc rather than the nearest one.
Type 1+2 combination arrester — V50 and V25
OBO publish V50-3+NPE-280 as Type 1+2 with Iimp 12.5 kA per pole, 50 kA total, In 30 kA, Imax 50 kA, Up ≤ 1.3 kV and Uc 280 V; and V25-B+C 4-385 as Type 1+2 with Iimp 25 kA line-to-neutral and 7 kA neutral-to-earth, In 30 kA, Imax 50 kA, Up < 1.5 kV, Uc 385 V. Against the V25, Citel publish DS250VG-300 (Type 1+2+3, Iimp 25 kA, In 30 kA, Imax 70 kA, Up 1.5 kV, Uc 255 Vac) — matched on Iimp, In and Up, with the Uc to be selected for your system — or DACN1-25CVGS-11-150 where Imax 100 kA is wanted. Against the V50, DACN1-13S-10-760 publishes Iimp 12.5 kA, In 40 kA and Imax 80 kA.
Type 2 surge arrester — V20
OBO publish V20-3+NPE+FS-280 as Type 2 / Class II, In 20 kA line-to-neutral and 40 kA neutral-to-earth, Imax 40 kA and 60 kA respectively, Up 1.5 kV line-to-earth combined, Uc 280 V, with remote signalling. Citel’s Type 2 pluggable range: 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 publish a lower Up than the V20. Part numbers encode Uc, so we quote the variant matching your system voltage.
Type 2+3 — V10 Compact, and a correction worth making
OBO publish V10 Compact 2.0 as Class II+III — that is, Type 2+3, not Type 3 — at In 10 kA with 60 kA total arresting capacity, Up ≤ 1.1 kV line-to-neutral, Uc 255 V. It is regularly specified as a Type 3 device and it is rated better than that. The Citel comparison is DAC50VGS-10-150, published as Type 2+3 at In 20 kA, Imax 50 kA, Up 1.5 kV. Note the V10’s lower Up against the Citel’s higher current — which is right depends on whether the position is about clamping or about energy.
Type 3 — FineController, and where Citel differ
OBO publish FineController FC-B/F as a genuine Type 3 / Class III device to EN 61643-11, at In 3 kA with Up < 1.5 kV line-to-earth and < 1.2 kV line-to-neutral, Uc 275 V. Citel do not publish a pure Type 3 category — their catalogue offers “Type 2 (or 3)” and “Type 2+3”. A Type 2+3 device satisfies most specifications written for a Type 3 position, but if the clause is written strictly to Type 3 we would raise it with your consultant before ordering rather than after.
Photovoltaic DC
OBO publish V20-C 3PH-600 as Type 2 / Class II at In 20 kA, Imax 40 kA, Ucpv 600 V, and V 20-C/U-3PH-Y at In 20 kA, Imax 40 kA with Up 2.0 kV at 500 Vdc. Citel publish DS50PV-600 at In 20 kA, Imax 40 kA, Ucpv 680 Vdc — a direct match on current with headroom on Uc — and the DPVN range including DPVN40CS and DPVN40CVGS at In 20 kA / Imax 40 kA in 600, 850, 1200 and 1500 V variants. One standards note: OBO still label the PV parts to EN 61643-11, while Citel’s current PV range is published to IEC 61643-31, the photovoltaic-specific standard. If your specification names a standard rather than a rating, check which one it names.
Data and network
OBO’s ND-CAT6/E-B protects RJ45 to 1 Gbit at < 900 V wire-to-earth and < 1100 V wire-to-wire, Uc 65 Vdc, under IEC 61643-21. The Citel comparison is MJ8-C6A for Cat5 and Cat6 at In 2 kA per pair and 16 kA across eight wires with IEEE 802.3an compliance, and the DLA DIN-rail range for signal and telecom. As with all data SPDs, these are 61643-21 devices and carry no Type 1/2/3 rating.
The B/C/D Letters, and Other Things Worth Getting Right
The translation table, once and clearly
Class B (Blitzstromableiter) is the lightning current arrester at the service entrance, tested at 10/350 µs — now Type 1. Class C is the surge arrester at the sub-distribution board, tested at 8/20 µs — now Type 2. Class D is terminal equipment protection at the socket, tested with the combination wave — now Type 3. DIN VDE 0675-6 is withdrawn, so a compliance-grade specification should cite Type 1/2/3 with the Iimp or In figures, not the letters.
Type against Class in IEC 61643-11 itself
One more layer that causes confusion. IEC 61643-11 uses Type 1/2/3 for the device and Class I/II/III test for the test procedure. They are two names for the same tier, which is why some datasheets print “Type 2 / Class II” on one line. The Roman “Class II” in an IEC context is not the old German “Class C” — it simply maps onto it.
Pluggable against monobloc
OBO’s V20 and V25 use replaceable protection modules. Citel’s DAC series is pluggable; DS250VG, DS250E, DS500E and the DACN1 range are monobloc. If your maintenance plan depends on swapping a module without a shutdown, specify the DAC series and tell us at enquiry.
Citel VG technology
In 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)”, published with claims of no follow-on current, no ageing and increased temporary overvoltage withstand. Where a site has had varistor-only devices age out and fail, that is the argument worth having on technical grounds.
Uc, the neutral arrangement, and the 3+1 configuration
The “3+1” in MCD 50-B 3+1 means three phase paths plus a separate neutral-to-earth path, which is the correct arrangement for a TT or TN-S system. Getting this wrong is more consequential than any current rating. Send the earthing arrangement with the enquiry and we will configure to it.
Coordination between stages
A Type 1 at the incomer and a Type 2 at the sub-board work together only if coordinated — by the cable length the makers specify, by a decoupling element, or by using devices published as a coordinated set. If you are replacing one stage of an existing OBO installation, raise it, because no maker has tested the mixed combination.
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 an OBO Cross-Reference Enquiry
We Translate the Part Number First
Because the B and C letters mislead, the first thing we do is establish what IEC type the OBO device you named actually is. On V25-B+C and V10 Compact that regularly changes the enquiry.
Send the Part Number, Get the Four Numbers Compared
We return the published type, Iimp or In and Imax, Up and Uc for both devices side by side, with per-pole and total figures labelled as such.
Selection From the Installation, Not the Catalogue
The right device depends on the lightning protection zone boundary, the earthing arrangement, the system voltage, the impulse withstand 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, so the submission does not come back for missing paperwork.
Coordination Check on Multi-Stage Installations
If you are replacing one stage and leaving another, we check the coordination rather than assume it. It 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 OBO by brand and the technical submission is approved, changing supplier means a fresh submission and possible delay. Sometimes that is worth it and sometimes it is not.
OBO Bettermann Cross-Reference Enquiries — Secunderabad
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you an OBO Bettermann distributor?
No. We are not an authorised OBO Bettermann distributor. OBO Bettermann and the product names on this page are trademarks of OBO Bettermann Holding GmbH & Co. KG, 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 61643-11 type and the published electrical ratings. If you need the genuine OBO product, they publish their own distributor network and that is the right route.
What is the Citel equivalent of OBO MCD 50-B 3+1?
OBO publish MCD 50-B 3+1 as Type 1+2, Iimp 50 kA per pole (125 kA total across the device), Up ≤ 1.7 kV line-to-neutral, Uc 255 V. Citel DS500E-230 publishes Type 1+2, Iimp 50 kA, In 50 kA, Imax 200 kA, Up 1.8 kV, Uc 255 Vac. Matched on Iimp per pole and on Uc, with Up within 0.1 kV. Send the earthing arrangement so we quote the right pole configuration.
Is V25-B+C a Type 2 device?
No, and this is the commonest OBO misreading on Indian drawings. The B+C in the part number comes from the withdrawn German standard, where B was the lightning current arrester and C the surge arrester. So V25-B+C is a Type 1+2 device — OBO publish it at Iimp 25 kA line-to-neutral, and it belongs at a service entrance or main distribution board, not as a sub-board Type 2. If it has been specified as a Type 2, either the specification or the device is wrong, and it is worth resolving before installation.
What does the B, C and D classification mean in Type terms?
Class B is Type 1 — the lightning current arrester at the service entrance, tested with a 10/350 µs impulse and rated in Iimp. Class C is Type 2 — the surge arrester at the sub-distribution board, tested at 8/20 µs and rated in In and Imax. Class D is Type 3 — terminal equipment protection at the socket, tested with a combination wave. The letters come from DIN VDE 0675-6, which is withdrawn, so a modern specification should be written in Type 1/2/3 terms with the current figures stated. If your drawing still uses letters, translate before comparing anything.
OBO say 125 kA and Citel say 50 kA. Which is bigger?
They are the same size device, quoted on different bases. OBO’s 125 kA is the total across all poles; their per-pole figure is 50 kA, which is what compares directly with Citel’s 50 kA. OBO publish both numbers, which is honest, but comparing one maker’s total against another’s per-pole is the single most common error in SPD tender evaluation. We always label which basis a figure is on, in both directions.
Is V10 Compact a Type 3 device?
It is better than that. OBO publish V10 Compact 2.0 as Class II+III, that is Type 2+3, at In 10 kA with 60 kA total arresting capacity and Up ≤ 1.1 kV line-to-neutral. It is often specified as a Type 3, which understates it. The Citel comparison is DAC50VGS, also Type 2+3, at In 20 kA and Imax 50 kA with Up 1.5 kV — higher current, higher Up. Which is right depends on whether the position needs harder clamping or more energy capacity.
My drawing specifies MC 50-B. Can you supply an equivalent?
Worth checking the specification itself first. Every live OBO product page for MC 50-B now returns not-found — the current device is MCD 50-B. If your drawing names MC 50-B it was probably written some years ago, and that is worth flagging to the consultant regardless of who ends up supplying it. Once the intended rating is confirmed, the Citel comparison follows straightforwardly from the Type, Iimp, Up and Uc.
Do you publish OBO prices?
No. Manufacturer price lists circulated to distributor networks are confidential and republishing one would be wrong whoever it belonged to. Send us the OBO part number and we will quote the Citel equivalent with the specification comparison alongside it.
Send us the OBO part number from the drawing
We will translate the B and C letters into IEC types, then return the published type, Iimp or In and Imax, Up and Uc for both devices side by side — with per-pole and total figures labelled as such, so nothing is compared on the wrong basis.