How do surge arresters protect electrical equipment?

Surge arresters are crucial components in protecting electrical equipment from transient voltage spikes, commonly caused by lightning strikes or switching events. They function by redirecting excess voltage away from sensitive equipment to the ground, thus preventing potential damage. When a voltage surge occurs, the surge arrester activates and creates a low-resistance path for the excess energy, safely dissipating it to the ground. This grounding of excess voltage helps ensure that the voltage levels experienced by electrical equipment remain within safe operating limits.

While other options describe actions that can occur in electrical systems, they do not accurately represent the function of surge arresters. Increasing current flow or enhancing voltage does not serve to protect equipment from surges. Similarly, while devices can interrupt current flow to prevent overloads or faults, this is not the primary function of surge arresters. Their main role is to provide a protective release mechanism for excess voltage, ensuring the longevity and reliability of electrical systems.