To protect electrical devices (load) from jumps in power supply voltage, sometimes nonlinear semiconductor element varistor is used. They are connected in parallel with the load.
There are load $R_l=10~\Omega$, shunt $R=10~\Omega$ and varistor $v$ in the diagram. Current-voltage characteristic of the varistor is depicted below. In nominal mode ammeter's readings are $I=I_0=1.0~\mathrm{A}$.