How advances in semiconductor technologies have adversely affected electrical and electronics installations in Africa

Abstract

This paper presents findings obtained in the Zambian national instrumentation surveys and highlights the little understood adverse effects that advances in semiconductor technology have on electrical and electronic instrumentation applied in all sectors in most African countries in particular Zambia. These effects have been occasioned by the lack of compliance to revised international installation and protection standards, poor power quality and poor planning compounded in many cases by severe weather conditions. These adverse impacts have been mainly caused by very high transistor integration in semiconductor (ICs). This has meant that electrical environment of yester year now requires vast improvements for the newer low dielectric strength component based equipment to operate reliably and safely. This paper finally describes good installation practices in power conditioning, earthing, bonding, surge and lightning protection solutions.