Bourns, Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier of electronic components, introduced one of the most significant breakthroughs in MOV device design in decades, its IsoMOV™ protectors. The innovatively designed Bourns® IsoMOV™ hybrid protection component integrates the GDT function directly into the MOV itself, providing an elevated level of surge protection in terms of performance, operational life and enhanced device reliability. Because the fully-integrated, compact Bourns® hybrid design features performance specifications usually found in larger traditional MOV devices, Bourns® IsoMOV™ protectors enable designers to better tailor the surge protection performance to their stringent space requirements, and allow them to upgrade their MOV overvoltage protection to include the proven benefit of GDT isolation without a PCB redesign. With industry-standard pin layouts, Bourns® IsoMOV™ protectors offer a substantial performance and reliability upgrade to same-size standard MOVs in a pin-to-pin drop-in-replacement form factor.

The IsoMOV™ protector is a fully integrated GDT and MOV hybrid design. Combining both devices into a single package allows the GDT to block leakage currents through the MOV that may lead to premature failure, making the MOV inherently more robust without adding additional components into the circuit design. Rated at 125°C, which is well above the industry-standard 85°C, the IsoMOV™ protector's extended temperature range and low leakage are especially well-suited for industrial, power line communications, high-speed information and communication technology (ICT) equipment, as well as a wide range of certain harsh environment or remote, exposed applications where repairs can be both physically challenging and expensive to perform.

"In our interconnected world, devices need to maintain maximum uptime. Because of this, many designers specify MOVs rated for much higher voltages and surge currents in order to ensure they are never stressed to their breaking point. Others have placed GDTs in series with MOVs to eliminate leakage currents and extend the life of the MOV. The efficient design of the Bourns® IsoMOV™ protector allows designers to do away with larger, generally lower-performing, and often more expensive design alternatives," said Tomaž Bojko, Product Line Manager for Overvoltage Protection Solutions at Bourns.

Lee Bourns, Marketing Director for Circuit Protection at Bourns, added: "Our new family of Bourns® IsoMOV™ protectors truly is one of the most revolutionary technological breakthroughs in overvoltage protection over the last several decades. For far too long, design engineers have been forced to select between marginally-performing, space-saving components and larger, over-specified devices in order to meet their protection needs. With IsoMOV™ protectors, designers can now get the right level of surge protection for their application without having to make any performance, size, cost or redesign compromises."

The Bourns® IsoMOV™ protector series is UL 1449 Type 5 recognized and available now.