Abstract
The paper presents the main elements of surge arresters used for the protection of the transformer and the high voltage network against overvoltages. A comparison is made between the characteristics of the main types of the surge arresters, both in terms of the constructive elements and in terms of the technical and functional characteristics of these surge arresters. Following this analysis, it is highlighted why there is a tendency to replace one model of surge arrester with the other model which is more efficient.