In the evolution of industrial surge arresters, when did Misao Kobayashi’s team at Meidensha introduce the first high-voltage MOV-type arrester?

Answer

1975

The industrial sector saw a major technological shift in surge protection in 1975 when Misao Kobayashi and his team at Meidensha introduced the first high-voltage Metal-Oxide Varistor (MOV)-type arrester. This innovation was significant because it represented gapless technology that successfully replaced older Silicon Carbide (SiC) designs that were common in utility-grade protection previously. The MOV was superior for handling intense, high-energy surges, such as those caused by lightning strikes on transmission lines, due to its inherent capability to act as a high-speed switch. This allowed it to divert massive currents rapidly, which was critical for clamping utility-level spikes effectively and improving protective capabilities beyond what older technologies could manage.

In the evolution of industrial surge arresters, when did Misao Kobayashi’s team at Meidensha introduce the first high-voltage MOV-type arrester?
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