KYOCERA AVX has expanded its TransGuard® VT Series with new high-temperature, automotive-grade multilayer varistors (MLVs) built specifically for 48V power supply systems. These devices join the industry-first VT Series, which was the first to deliver MLVs rated for 175°C operation.
The TransGuard VT Series MLVs are ZnO-based ceramic semiconductor components that combine extremely reliable bidirectional overvoltage protection with EMI/RFI attenuation in compact SMT packages. By integrating both functions, they reduce the need for separate MLCCs, helping designers cut BOM costs and save valuable board space.
They’re designed for harsh environments, supporting operating temperatures from -55°C up to +175°C with no derating across the full range.
The series is qualified to AEC-Q200, IEC 61000-4-2, and ISO 10605, and offers high current and energy handling, multi?strike capability, and very low leakage.
They also carry the highest HBM ESD classification-Class 6-meaning they can safely withstand over 25,000V of ESD, and they are rated MSL 1, giving them unlimited floor life under standard conditions, no special dry-pack requirements, and no need for baking before reflow soldering.
Ideal use cases include protecting high-temperature automotive, industrial, and transportation systems from ESD, load dumps, and voltage spikes caused by AC/DC motors, engines, radiators, relays, jump starts, UPS systems, and downhole drilling.
The new 48V System VT Series MLVs are tailored for vehicles with 48V power supplies, rated for operation up to 150°C, and additionally qualified to VDA?320.
They’re currently offered in five EIA case sizes—0805, 1206, 1210, 1812, and 2220—and rated for 56VDC or 40VAC working voltage, 100–110V clamping, 48V jump start, and transients up to 30–1,500A and 0.2–9J. Capacitance ranges from 80–2,800pF.
These parts are well-suited for electric vehicles—from e-bikes and e-scooters to golf carts, passenger cars, and commercial vehicles—as well as their charging infrastructure.
Several TransGuard VT Series MLV part numbers, including select 48V System VT Series variants, are also available with KYOCERA AVX’s FLEXITERM® terminations. These terminations are engineered to handle severe vibration, up to 5mm of mechanical board flexure, and up to 3,000 temperature cycles up to 150°C without internal cracking—far exceeding the AEC-Q200 requirement of 1,000 cycles up to 125°C.
All New Series share additional key features include RoHS-compliant 100% matte-tin-plated terminations with nickel barriers, and tape-and-reel packaging options of 1,000, 4,000, or 10,000 parts per reel.
The full VT Series lineup now spans six case sizes from 0603 to 2220, with versions rated for operating temperatures up to 150°C (VTA3) or 175°C (VTA7). Working voltages cover 12–56VDC and 4–40VAC, clamping voltages 32–110V, jump-start voltages 20–48V, transients from 20–2,150A and 0.1–9.0J, and capacitance from 60–2,800pF.
Leadership Comment
“Our tested and proven TransGuard VT Series high-temperature, automotive-grade MLVs provide excellent bidirectional overvoltage protection and EMI/RFI attenuation in a single SMT package, have the highest rated operating temperatures in the MLV industry, and don’t require any derating over the specified temperature range,” said Perrin Hardee, Product Marketing Manager at KYOCERA AVX. “They’re also extremely reliable and cost-effective. So, we’re very excited extend the series’ cost and performance advantages to our customers in the automotive industry with the release of the new VT Series MLVs for 48V systems. Given the steadily growing number of sensitive automotive electronic systems and the wide range of transients in harsh, high-temperature automotive environments, these new MLVs will help solve many common challenges.”
For more information about TransGuard VT Series high-temperature, automotive-grade MLVs, including the new 48V System VT Series MLVs, or the complete KYOCERA AVX portfolio of multilayer varistors, visit the links embedded here or reach out to circuitprotection@kyocera-avx.com.
