A VDR is a special type of resistor that changes its resistance with rise in voltage. It has a very high resistance at low voltage (below the trigger voltage) and very low resistance at high voltage (above the trigger voltage). It is also called varistor or voltage sensitive resistor. There are two types of varistor.
SILICON CARBIDE VARISTOR:-
MANUFACTURING: These are made up of silicon carbide. It is milled and mixed with a suitable ceramic binder. Then it pressed and extruded to desired shape of disc, rod or washer. Then it is sintered under controlled temperature to produce hard material. Wire leads are then connected.
METAL-OXIDE VARISTOR (MOV):
MANUFACTURING:
Zinc oxide and bismuth oxides are mixed with other powdered metal additives, pressed into discs and sintered at 12000C. It has an encapsulated polycrystalline ceramic body; with metal contacts and wire leads.
APPLICATIONS: A varistor acts as a switch. It is usually used for short circuit protection in power strips or lightning bolts "arrestors" on street power poles. It is also used as a "snobbier" in inductive circuits.