Metal Oxide Varistors (MOVs)

Metal oxide varistors (MOV) are semiconductors that protect electronic components and systems from transient voltages. These clamping devices contain a matrix of zinc oxide grains sandwiched between two metal plates which serve as electrodes. The boundaries between grains form diode junctions which allow current to flow in only one direction. Applying low or moderate voltages causes reverse leakage through the diode junctions and a small flow of current. Higher voltages trigger the avalanche effect and cause the diode junctions to break down. As a rule, metal oxide varistors exhibit highly non-linear current-voltage characteristics. They have high resistance at low voltages and a low resistance at high voltages. Unlike transient voltage suppression (TVS) diodes, however, metal oxide varistors degrade as they absorb repeated transients.

Performance specifications for metal oxide varistors (MOV) include maximum working voltage, varistor voltage, maximum clamping voltage, surge current, surge shift, energy absorption, capacitance, and leakage current. Maximum working voltage is the maximum steady-state, direct current (DC) voltage where the typical leakage current is less than a specified value. Maximum clamping voltage is the maximum peak voltage measured across the device with a specific pulse current and waveform. Surge shift is the change in voltage after the application of the surge current. Energy absorption is the maximum amount of energy that can be dissipated with a specified waveform without damage. Additional specifications for metal oxide varistors include response time and maximum alternating current (AC) root mean square (RMS) voltage. The maximum AC RMS voltage is the maximum continuous sinusoidal RMS voltage that may be applied. 

Product specifications for metal oxide varistors (MOV) include mounting style, lead type, and application. Through hole technology (THT) mounts components on a printed circuit board (PCB) by inserting component leads through holes in the board and then soldering the leads in place on the opposite side of the board. Surface mount technology (SMT) adds components to a PCB by soldering component leads or terminals to the top surface of the board. There are three lead styles for metal oxide varistors: axial, radial, and lead-less. In terms of applications, some metal oxide varistors are designed for cell phones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants (PDA), MP3 players, and notebook computers. Others telecommunications devices, power supplies, data systems or power systems. Both types of MOVs provide fast response times, low working voltages, low capacitance, low leaking current, and low clamping voltage.

• Considerations for Selecting Littelfuse MOVs and Fuses for Industrial Motor Applications
  Littelfuse offers specific Varistors and Classes of Fuses to address over-voltage and over-current transients in the Industrial environment. This application area is typically characterized as AC...
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• Designing with Thermally Protected TMOV Varistors in TVSS Applications
  Metal Oxide Varistors (MOVs) are commonly used to suppress transients in many applications such as: Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors (TVSS), Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS), AC Power Taps, AC...
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• The ABCs of MOVs
  The material in this guide has been arranged in 3 parts for easy reference; Section A, Section B and Section C. "A" is for Applications This section provides general guidelines on what types of MOV...
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Part Numbers for Metal Oxide Varistors MOVs