Why Would a Varistor Burn out?
The Surge Energy Is Too Large and Exceeds the Absorbed Power; 8, the Pressure Is Not Enough; 9, Current and Surge Are Too Large and So On. the Safety of the...
The surge energy is too large and exceeds the absorbed power; 8, the pressure is not enough; 9, current and surge are too large and so on. The safety of the use of varistors has always been a problem that needs attention.
What happens when a varistor fails?
Under different current conditions, failure modes include electrical puncture (see Figure 4), physical cracking (see Figure 5), and thermal runaway. Cracking happens because varistors are basically a ceramic material, and hitting them with a sharp high-amplitude surge is like hitting a dinner plate with a hammer.
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How do I know if my varistor is bad?
Open the case with the screwdrivers and locate the varistor. It is usually a brightly coloured disk the size of a coin. The varistor will likely be wired to a fuse holder. If the varistor is visibly burnt through or broken, it is bad; replace it.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
