POWER SUPPLY GUARD CIRCUIT

Metal Oxide Varistor

Here is a Power Supply Guard circuit that can be used as a protective device in power
supply boxes. This type of Spike protection circuit is present in the multi socket switch
boards used to connect computer peripherals. This circuit is useful to guard the electronic or
electrical devices from mains transients and spikes. If heavy transients develop in the
mains, the MOV in the circuit short circuit the lines and the fuse will blow out.

The Power Supply Guard circuit uses a Metal Oxide Varistor 431KD14, a 0.1 uF X2 rated AC
capacitor, a Toroidal transformer and two 2KV disc capacitors.
Components:

Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) contains a ceramic mass of zinc oxide grains, in a matrix of
other metal oxides such as small amounts of bismuth, cobalt, manganese etc. sandwiched
between two metal plates which forms the electrodes. The boundary between each grain
and its neighbour forms a diode junction, which allows current to flow in only one direction.
When a small or moderate voltage is applied across the electrodes, only a tiny current
flows, caused by reverse leakage through the diode junctions. When a large voltage is
applied, the diode junction breaks down due to a combination of thermionic emission and
electron tunneling, and large current flows. Varistors can absorb part of a surge.The effect
depends on the equipment and details of the selected varistor.

A varistor remains non-conductive as a shunt mode device during normal operation when
voltage remains well below its “clamping voltage”. If a transient pulse is too high, the device
may melt, burn, vaporize, or otherwise be damaged or destroyed.

Toroidal transformers are built around a ring-shaped core. The primary and secondary
coils are often wound concentrically to cover the entire surface of the core. This minimizes
the length of wire needed, and also provides screening to minimize the core’s magnetic field
from generating electromagnetic interference. In the circuit, the toroidal transformer is
made using primary and secondary winding each having 20 turnsof 22 SWG enameled
copper wire. The core can be procured from the damaged power supply boards of UPS or
SMPS.
Power Supply Guard Circuit