How is surge arrest typically designed to function?

Surge arresters are designed to protect electrical systems from voltage spikes, such as those caused by lightning strikes or other transient events. The primary function of a surge arrester is to discharge surge currents to ground, effectively providing a safe path for the excess energy. This helps to prevent damage to sensitive equipment and components connected to the electrical system.

In operation, when a voltage surge occurs, the surge arrester will limit the voltage increase by creating a low-resistance path to ground. This rapid response to an electrical surge ensures that the excess voltage is redirected away from the equipment that needs protection, thereby preserving the integrity of the electrical system.

The other approaches mentioned, such as defusing electrical surges through resistors, absorbing and storing electrical energy, or rerouting electrical flows, do not accurately reflect the primary mechanism of surge arresters, which is fundamentally about grounding surge currents to mitigate risk and preserve system functionality.