What is a lightning arrester?

1.Definition of lightning arrester

Lightning arrester: An electrical appliance used to protect electrical equipment from high transient overvoltage during lightning strikes, and to limit the freewheeling time and often the amplitude of freewheeling. Lightning arresters are sometimes also called overvoltage protectors, overvoltage limiters.

2.The scope of application of the lightning arrester

AC gapless metal oxide arresters are used to protect the insulation of AC power transmission and transformation equipment from lightning overvoltage and operating overvoltage damage. It is suitable for overvoltage protection of transformers, transmission lines, distribution panels, switch cabinets, power metering boxes, vacuum switches, parallel compensation capacitors, rotating electrical machines and semiconductor devices.
3. The characteristics and principle of lightning arrester

AC gapless metal oxide arrester has excellent nonlinear volt-ampere characteristics, good response characteristics, no freewheeling, large current capacity, low residual voltage, strong ability to suppress overvoltage, anti-pollution, anti-aging, not subject to altitude constraints, Simple structure, no gap, tight seal, long life and so on.

The lightning arrester is in a high resistance state under normal system operating voltage, and only microampere current flows. It exhibits low resistance under the action of overvoltage and high current, thus limiting the residual voltage across the lightning arrester.