TVS Varistor Selection Guide and Manufacturers

This guide is designed to help you select the right TVS Varistor from a variety of manufacturers.

What is a TVS Varistor? - Introduction

Metal-Oxide Varistors (MOV), often referred to as TVS Varistors, are electronic components vital for protecting sensitive circuits from electrostatic discharge (ESD) and other transient voltage events. A varistor, short for variable resistor, is an electronic component with an electrical resistance that changes based on the applied voltage. For this reason, they are also known as Voltage Dependent Resistors (VDRs).

They exhibit a non-linear voltage-current (V-I) characteristic, much like a diode.

The metal-oxide varistor is the most prevalent type. It consists of a ceramic mass made up of zinc oxide grains held together in a matrix of other metal oxides, all sandwiched between two metal plates (electrodes). These metal oxides can include elements like bismuth, cobalt, and manganese.

TVS Varistor Selection Guide

When choosing a TVS Varistor for your specific application, keep the following specifications in mind:

• Varistor voltage range (min.,max.)
• Surge Current
• Energy
• Number of Circuits
• Maximum AC Volts
• Maximum DC Volts
• Capacitance @ frequency
• Operating Temperature
• Mounting Type
• Package/Case Type

TVS Varistor Manufacturers

The following table lists some of the well-known TVS Varistor manufacturers: