TMOV20R230E

Transorbs, also known as transient voltage suppressor (TVS) diodes, are designed to protect sensitive electronics circuitry from high voltage surges and transients. They act as a voltage limiting device, providing protection against spikes in the voltage. TMOV20R230E, a metal oxide Varistor (MOV), is widely used as protection for electric circuits from damaging voltage transients.

A Varistor is a nonsymmetrical semiconductor device that has a voltage–current characteristic resembling a reverse biased diode. At low voltage, the device has a low impedance, meaning it will rapidly conduct current. As the voltage is increased, the current flow in the Varistor begins to decrease. At a certain voltage called the ‘breakdown voltage’, the Varistor will begin to block the current. This characteristic provides the Varistor with its voltage protection characteristic.

TMOV20R230E is an example of an MOV type of Varistor designed for high energy and high power handling applications. It is a 20mm radial leaded, disk shape part with an outer electrode of radius 2.3mm. This MOV is specifically designed for protection of circuit boards from electrical noise and surges. The MOV is capable of responding to surge pulses up to 20kV and can handle up to 10,000A transient pulses and 5kVA for 1 second. It has a breakdown voltage range between 175VAC and 263VAC.

The working principle of the TMOV20R230E is simple. When a voltage transient/surge occurs, the Varistor conducts the excess current to ground, thus providing protection to the circuit. The Varistor works by introducing a high impedance to circuit current once the voltage rises above the Varistor’s breakdown voltage (VBR). The Varistor absorbs the energy of the surge by converting it to heat, and then radiation dissipates the heat. As soon as the surge or transient dissipates, the Varistor automatically resets itself to its original resistance value.

The TMOV20R230E is ideal for applications such as power supply and clamping circuit protection, transients protection for AC/DC motor control circuits, Protection of office automation systems, smart meters, remote monitoring systems and home appliances connected to the internet etc. The wide operating temperature range from -40°C to 85°C makes it suitable for many harsh environments.

In conclusion, TMOV20R230E provides excellent protection for a variety of applications, where high energy and transient pulses are expected. This Varistor provides a cost-effective, high-reliability solution for protecting sensitive electronic circuits from potentially damaging voltage transients.