A Distribution Arrester is a high-performance surge protection device designed for installation on overhead power lines to safeguard transformers, insulators, and other distribution equipment from transient overvoltages caused by lightning strikes and switching operations. While this need has remained constant over 100+ years, options on how best to mitigate high voltage stresses have changed substantially. The arrester reduces dangerous transient overvoltages by diverting. What happens if the distribution box is not protected? Surge protectors are the first line of defense. It prevents continued flow to follow current to ground and it is capable of repeating these functions as specified per ANSI standard C62. An arrester does not absorb lightning or.