Surge protector (surge protector) is an irreplaceable device in lightning protection of electronic equipment. It used to be called "lightning arrester" or "overvoltage protector". Entering the power line, the instantaneous overvoltage of the signal transmission line is limited to the voltage range that the equipment or system can withstand, or a strong lightning current discharge place will be generated to protect the protected equipment or system from impact and damage.
The type and structure of a surge protector are different for different purposes, but it should at least contain a non-linear voltage limiting element. The basic components used in surge protectors are: discharge gap, gas-filled discharge tube, varistor, suppression diode and pre-current coil, etc.
The most primitive surge protector claw-shaped gap appeared in the late 19th century and was used for overhead transmission lines to prevent lightning strikes from damaging equipment insulation and causing power outages, so it is called "surge protector". In the 1920s, aluminum surge protectors, oxide film surge protectors and pill surge protectors appeared. Tube-type surge protectors appeared in the 1930s. Silicon carbide lightning protection devices appeared in the 1950s. In the 1970s, Panasonic Corporation of Japan first invented a metal oxide surge protector with metal oxide ceramics as the main component. Modern surge protectors not only have a good protective effect on various lightning overvoltages and operating overvoltages in high-voltage lines, but also make great efforts in the field of microelectronics.
