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Varistor_Characteristics_r1-1

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Andrés Galeotti
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21 views

Varistor_Characteristics_r1-1

Uploaded by

Andrés Galeotti
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Some

 Varistor  V-­‐I  Characteristics  


Martin  P.  Manning  2014.02.08  r.1  2015.02.07  
 

 
Figure  1  –  Varistor  V-­‐I  Characteristics  

 
Figure  1  shows  data  from  two  different  new,  old  
stock  (NOS)  SiC  varistors  and  some  currently  
manufactured  SiC  and  ZnO  varistors.    The  intent  is  
to  compare  the  new  manufactured  parts  to  the  
NOS  to  determine  which  ones  might  be  acceptable  
substitutes  for  those  used  in  vibrato  circuits  seen  
in  Magnatone  guitar  amplifiers  produced  and  sold  
up  to  the  late  1960’s.  
The  NOS  part  data  is  from  two  sources.  The  first  
set  of  NOS  data  was  obtained  by  the  author  from  
two  unmarked  parts  sold  as  NOS  replacements  for  
Magnatone  (Fig.  2).    Drew  Ross  kindly  provided  
the  sample  parts.    These  are  rod-­‐type,  brown  
painted  components  that  appear  to  be  the  same  
type  as  sold  under  the  Workman  brand  (Workman   Figure  2  -­‐  Unmarked  S
NiC  
OS  RSod-­‐type  
iC  Rod-­‐Type  
Electric  Products,  Sarasota,  Florida,  USA).  The   Varistors  
measurements  suggest  they  are  part  number  
FS1203,  0.05mA@49V.    Various  Workman  brand  parts  are  recommended  as  
replacements,  including  FS1203,  FS1205  (0.05mA@80V),  FS308  (1mA@110V),  and  
FR1039  (1mA@68V).  
The  data  points  identified  as  trobbins  data  are  said  to  be  obtained  from  Globar  
233BNR-­‐23  parts,  which  have  a  spec  of  1mA@110V.  These  parts  were  described  as  
being  brown,  tubular,  and  marked  with  a  silver  line.  
The  Littelfuse  V68ZA2P  data  were  obtained  by  the  author  from  two  sample  parts  
provided  by  Jeremy  Slemenda.    These  are  ZnO  disk  units  with  a  spec  of  1mA@61-­‐
75V.  These  parts  were  tested  in  a  Magnatone  213  clone  by  Slemenda,  and  while  they  
functioned  the  result  was  a  choppy  sounding  vibrato  (as  the  curve  would  suggest).  
They  were  subsequently  replaced  with  Workman  FS1205  parts  (0.05mA@80V),  and  
the  sound  changed  to  the  expected  Magnatone  vibrato  character.    The  slow  rise  of  
current  with  voltage  in  the  SiC  varistor  is  important.  
Also  shown  are  curves  drawn  from  currently  manufactured  SiC  varistor  data  sheets.  
These  are  Metrosil  (M&I  Materials  Ltd.  Hibernia  Way,  Trafford  Park,  Manchester  
M32  0ZD  United  Kingdom),  part  numbers  100-­‐P/W/921  and  100-­‐P/W/923,  and  
HVR  International  (HVR  International  GmbH,  Grünthal  8,  D-­‐90552  Röthenbach  a.d.  
Pegnitz,  Germany),  part  numbers  340/5  and  400/6.    
The  Metrosil  100-­‐P/W/921  parts  have  been  recommended  as  replacements  for  the  
varistors  in  Magnatone  amplifiers,  and  are  believed  by  some  to  be  the  parts  used  in  
the  current  production  Magnatone  amplifiers  (restarted  in  2013).    In  the  plot  above,  
the  manufacturer’s  data  is  shown  to  closely  match  the  trobbins  data  and  the  
Workman  FS1203  spec.  

A  SiC  varistor  substitute  using  modern  MOV’s  


The  V-­‐I  characteristic  of  a  SiC  varistor  can  be  approximated  using  modern  ZnO  
MOV’s  by  paralleling  several  assemblies  of  an  MOV  and  a  series  resistor,  with  
breakdown  voltages  and  resistances  selected  so  as  to  approximate  the  smooth  curve  
of  a  SiC  varistor  as  a  series  of  straight-­‐line  segments.    The  schematic  for  this  
arrangement  is  shown  in  Figure  3.      
In  this  example,  a  close  match  to  
the  Metrosil  part  is  achieved  
using  MOV’s  with  breakdown  
voltages  of  22,  56,  and  82V  as  
seen  in  Figure  4.    This  concept  
was  tested  by  Jeremy  Slemenda,  
and  found  to  be  very  similar  in  
performance  to  NOS  SiC  
varistors  in  a  Magnatone  amp  
circuit.    The  MOV’s  were  found  to  
be  very  consistent  in  breakdown  
voltage,  and  no  undesirable  

Figure  3  -­‐  Substitute  for  SiC  Varistors  


audio  artifacts  were  observed.    A  similar  version  using  Zener  diodes  in  place  of  the  
MOV’s  was  tried  earlier,  but  the  diodes  caused  an  unacceptable  clicking  sound  in  the  
audio  signal.    

 
Figure  4  -­‐  Approximating  SiC  V-­‐I  using  ZnO  MOV's  and  resistors  

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