Why Zinc Oxide MOVs Are Preferred for Surge Protection
Modern power and industrial electronic designs rely on metal oxide varistors (MOVs) to protect circuits from transient voltage surges caused by lightning, switching events, or unstable power conditions. For engineers and sourcing teams evaluating MOV replacement or alternative options, understanding MOV structure, voltage classes, and application suitability is essential.
This article provides a technical overview of JVX Metal Oxide Varistors, focusing on structure, operating characteristics, typical applications, and class-level alternative selection guidance.
Metal Oxide Varistor Structure Overview
A metal oxide varistor is constructed using zinc oxide (ZnO) ceramic grains sandwiched between two metal electrodes, resulting in a highly nonlinear voltage-current characteristic.
- High impedance under normal operating voltage
- Rapid impedance drop when surge voltage exceeds threshold
- Surge energy absorption and voltage clamping
JVX Metal Oxide Varistor Key Characteristics
- Operating temperature: -40°C to +105°C
- Disc diameters: 5D, 7D, 10D, 14D, 20D
- Varistor voltage range: 18V to 1800V
- Compliance: RoHS, REACH
Typical Surge Protection Applications
- Industrial power supplies
- AC-DC converters and SMPS designs
- Home appliance control boards
- Motor drives and inverter systems
- Power protection modules
Class-Level MOV Alternative Selection Guidance
JVX Metal Oxide Varistors are designed to align with common industry MOV voltage and disc-size classes. Comparisons are provided at the class level only and do not constitute direct part-number cross references.
| Varistor Voltage (V₁mA) | Disc Diameter | JVX Series | Comparable MOV Class | Typical Brands Referenced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 470V (471K) | 7mm | JVX07D471K | V07 class | Vishay, TDK, Bourns |
| 470V (471K) | 10mm | JVX10D471K | V10 class | Vishay, TDK, Bourns |
| 470V (471K) | 14mm | JVX14D471K | V14 class | Vishay, TDK, Bourns |
| 470V (471K) | 20mm | JVX20D471K | V20 class | Vishay, TDK, Bourns |
Watch: How Metal Oxide Varistors Protect Circuits
Explore JVX Metal Oxide Varistors
Explore the JVX MOV series and contact jb for selection and application support.
