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Technique for current step measurements on the low field Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV)

Jaramillo, R.A.

The low field (E{congruent}2kV/cm) Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) is a voltage regulation device. This report describes a technique for performing DC characteristic measurements on a MOV. The varistor is in the feedback loop of a high voltage operational amplifier. A current source forces a staircase current waveform through a MOV. An operational amplifier provides the required applied voltage to maintain the desired values of current through the varistor. The current values change at a maximum rate of 33.3 readings per second and a high speed voltmeter measures the varistor voltage. The maximum available current and voltage at present are 5 mA and 10 kV respectively. Examples of its use are with data from the MC3596 and XMC4317.