How Lightning Arresters Protect Household Appliances? - Working Principle & Selection Guide

Electronic appliances at home are prone to malfunction due to lightning strikes or sudden power surges. Lightning arresters (or surge protectors) act as "voltage safety valves" to prevent such surges from damaging your devices. Below is a clear breakdown of their operating mechanism and key selection criteria.

I. Working Principle of Lightning Arresters

The core of surge protection circuitry is to suppress surges and channel surge current through nonlinear components (e.g., MOVs, GDTs). It operates in two modes:

1. Normal State

It stays in a high-resistance standby mode, without disrupting the standard 220V or 110V household power supply.

2. Surge Response (When Voltage Exceeds the Safe Threshold: ~250V for 220V Systems)

•Detects the voltage spike within nanoseconds;

•Abruptly reduces resistance to become a low-impedance conductor;

•Diverts hazardous surge current to the home’s grounding system;

•Resets to standby mode once the voltage stabilizes.

II. How Lightning Arresters Protect Appliances

Lightning arresters safeguard devices from direct and indirect surges through three core mechanisms:

•Voltage Clamping: Limits surge voltage to a safe level (e.g., 275V for 220V systems) that appliances can withstand;

•Stopping Surge Spread: Installed on electrical panels, power outlets, or signal cables (TV/internet), they divert surges before they reach appliances;

•Energy Absorption: High-quality materials dissipate surge energy rapidly—critical for protecting sensitive electronics like laptops and smart devices.

III. Household Lightning Arrester Selection Guide

1. Match the Correct Rated Voltage

•For 220V systems (Asia/Europe): Choose Uₙ = 275V AC;

•For 120V systems (North America/Japan): Choose Uₙ = 120V AC.

2. Prioritize Safety Certifications

Select products certified to international or national standards:

•IEC 61643 (global standard);

•GB 18802.1 (China national standard);

•UL 1449 (US safety standard).

3. Key Practical Features

•Service Life: At least 10 years;

•Status Indicator Lights: Green = normal operation, Red = need for replacement;

•Weatherproof Design: IP65+ rating for outdoor installation.

IV. Conclusion

Lightning arresters are a cost-effective solution to protect valuable household appliances. For high-quality, certified products, choose CHUNDEXIN—with over 10 years of expertise in insulation and surge protection. Their lightning arresters feature fast response times, rugged design, and customizable options (voltage, current, size) to meet household needs.

Contact CHUNDEXIN’s technical team for personalized advice and a free quote!