In　this　paper,　the　different　test　platforms　are　set　up　to　study　the　V-A　characteristics　of　AC　and　DC　MOV　under　different　temperatures.　The　entire　volt-ampere　characteristic　includes　small　current　area,　operating　area(30/60us),　lightning　area　(8/20us),　steep　wave　area(1/5us)　and　large　current　area(4/10us).　Representative　AC　and　DC　MOV　in　China　are　chosen　as　the　samples.　The　experimental　results　show　that　AC　and　DC　MOV　in　small　current　region　exhibit　a　negative　temperature　coefficient,　that　is,　at　the　same　current,　the　higher　the　temperature,　the　lower　the　voltage　of　MOV.　The　smaller　the　current　of　MOV,　the　larger　the　absolute　value　of　the　negative　temperature　coefficient.　When　the　current　of　MOV　is　1mA,　the　temperature　coefficient　of　DC　MOV　between　-10°C　and　120°C　is　-0.0051　kV/°C,　and　the　temperature　coefficient　of　AC　MOV　is　-0.0063kV/°C.　The　V-A　characteristics　of　AC　and　DC　MOV　in　the　operating　area,　lightning　area,　steep　wave　area　and　large　current　area　have　little　to　do　with　temperature.　In　the　experiment,　when　the　MOV　is　damaged　due　to　side　flash,　the　voltage　and　current　waveforms　will　be　distorted.　The　skin　effect　under　high　frequency　impact　can　explain　the　side　flash.　©　2020　Institution　of　Engineering　and　Technology.　All　rights　reserved.