正常运行时，氧化锌避雷器工作在正常工频电压下，避雷器的氧化锌电阻片具有极高阻值，呈绝缘状态；当出现雷电过电压或内部过电压时，电压超过启动值后，阀片呈现低阻状态，泄放电流，避雷器两端维持较低的残压，以保护电气设备不受过电压损坏。待过电压结束后，避雷器立即恢复极高电阻，继续保持绝缘状态，对地只电流不超过1mA的泄露电流，保证电力系统的正常运行。因此氧化锌避雷器可以不需要设置火花间隙，也不需要进行灭弧。氧化锌避雷器动作迅速、通流量大、残压低、无续流，对大气过电压和某些内部过电压都能起到保护作用。
In normal operation, the zinc oxide arrester operates under normal power frequency voltage, and the zinc oxide resistor of the arrester has extremely high resistance value and is insulated. When the lightning overvoltage or internal overvoltage occurs, when the voltage exceeds the starting value, the valve shows a low resistance state, discharge current, and the two ends of the arrester maintain a low residual voltage. Protection of electrical equipment is not subject to voltage damage. When the overvoltage is over, the arrester will resume its extremely high resistance immediately and keep its insulation state. The leakage current to the ground is only less than 1 mA, so as to ensure the normal operation of the power system. Therefore, Zinc Oxide arrester can be set up without spark gap or arc extinguishing. Zinc oxide arrester acts quickly, has large flow, low residual voltage and no continuous current. It can protect atmospheric overvoltage and some internal overvoltage.