High-energy low-voltage surge arrester

This surge arrester is for protecting against high-energy and very fast surges and comprises first and second electrodes and a metal oxide varistor (MOV) disk between the electrodes. Each electrode has a central region and, at generally diametrically-opposed sides thereof, a source terminal and a load terminal. The terminals of each electrode are connected in the protected circuit in such a manner that load current in each of the conductors of the protected circuit flows through the electrode via a path that extends in series through the source terminal, the central region, and the load terminal. The source terminals of the two electrodes are generally aligned with each other about the periphery of the MOV disk, and the load terminals are also generally aligned with each other about the periphery of the disk. When the MOV disk is rendered conductive by a surge entering through the source terminal of one electrode, the arrester acts as a low-pass L/R filter that substantially reduces the voltage appearing at the load terminal of the arrester compared to that entering through the source terminal.