Metal Oxide Varistor Function

Varistors also called metal oxide varistors movs are used to protect sensitive circuits from a variety of overvoltage conditions.

Metal oxide varistor function.

A mov consist of approximately 90 of zinc oxide and a small amount of other metal oxides. Metal oxide varistors are now the most common type of voltage clamping device and are available for use at a wide range of voltages and currents. Mov is the most commonly used type of varistor. The ceramic powders of the metal oxides are kept intact between two metal plates called the electrodes.

Mov s are the most used component to protect heavy devices from transient voltages. This type is commonly known as the metal oxide varistor mov. When exposed to high transient voltage the mov clamps voltage to a safe level. It is used to protect the circuit from high voltage spikes by varying its resistance.

It is called so as the component is made from a mixture of zinc oxide and other metal oxides like cobalt manganese and so on and is kept intact between two electrodes which are basically metal plates. Surface mountable mov metal oxide varistor devices facilitate customs in smt assembly process and resolve the pcb space limitation issue. Metal oxide varistors are the most commonly used components that are used as voltage clamping devices to protect small or heavy devices from transient voltage surges. Varistors are used as control or compensation elements in circuits either to provide optimal operating conditions or to protect against excessive transient voltages.

Since a metal oxide is used in its construction the ability to absorb short voltage transients and the energy handling capabilities are extremely high. They are reflow and wave solderable and include the ch sm7 sm20 mle mhs ml and mln series. The metal oxide varistor or mov is a voltage dependent nonlinear device that provides excellent transient voltage suppression. Essentially these voltage dependent nonlinear devices have.

The metal oxide varistor is designed to protect various types of electronic devices and semiconductor elements from switching and induced lightning surges.