Patent ID: 7167007

Claim:
A method for testing metal oxide varistor (MOV) arresters, comprising: applying a plurality of applied voltages to a high voltage lead of the MOV arrester, the plurality of applied voltages being changed between an initial test voltage and final test voltage, the final test voltage corresponding to a point of conduction of a reference MOV arrester; determining a resistive current through the MOV arrester for each of the applied voltages; determining information corresponding to the resistive current when the applied test voltage corresponds to the point of conduction of the reference MOV arrester; comparing the determined information with information associated with the point of conduction of the reference MOV arrester; determining that the MOV arrester has passed the test when the determined information corresponds to the information associated with the reference MOV arrester; and determining that the MOV arrester has failed the test when the determined information does not correspond to the information associated with the reference MOV arrester; and indicating whether the MOV arrester has passed or failed the test.