Suntan metal oxide varistor
This property of the metal oxide varistor makes it ideal for use in electrical surge protectors. At normal current levels, the MOV will simply pass along the electricity to the devices plugged into the surge protector. In the event of a power surge, however, the MOV will divert the current into itself, preventing it from reaching the attached devices. This will protect sensitive electronic components, such as computer chips, that can be damaged by excessively large voltages. In the event of a sudden power surge, the MOV can respond much more quickly than similar surge-protector components.
A metal oxide varistor is generally made of zinc oxide or a similar substance. These substances give the varistor its quality of passing along current at normal household levels. When electrical current rises to a certain point, called the breakover point or breakover voltage, the tiny zinc oxide particles begin conducting the current among themselves only. This prevents the high-voltage current from passing into the rest of the surge protector or the devices plugged into it.
