最原始的避雷器是羊角形间隙，出现于19世纪末期，用于架空输电线路，防止雷击损坏设备绝缘而造成停电，故称“避雷器”。20世纪20年代,出现了铝避雷器,氧化膜避雷器和丸式避雷器。30年代出现了管式避雷器。50年代出现了碳化硅避雷器。70年代又出现了金属氧化物避雷器。现代高压避雷器，不仅用于限制电力系统中因雷电引起的过电压，也用于限制因系统操作产生的过电压。 避雷器有管式和阀式两大类。阀式避雷器分为碳化硅阀式避雷器和金属氧化物避雷器(又称氧化锌避雷器)。

The most original arrester is the lamb horn gap, which appeared in the late 19th century. It was used for overhead transmission lines to prevent the equipment insulation from being damaged by lightning and resulting in power outage, so it is called "arrester". In the 1920s, aluminum arresters, oxide film cangzhou.89ix.comshiyanjiw.89ix.comshoubanhulu.07858.netdianbiaox.37ix.com.cnzengbaiji.37ix.com.cn

yawenzhim.37ix.com.cnarresters and pellet arresters appeared. Tube arresters appeared in the 1930s. Silicon carbide arresters appeared in the 1950s. Metal oxide arresters appeared again in the 1970s. Modern high-voltage arresters are not only used to limit the overvoltage caused by lightning in power system, but also to limit the overvoltage caused by system operation. There are two types of lightning arresters: tube type and valve type. Valve arresters are divided into silicon carbide valve arresters and metal oxide arresters (also known as zinc oxide arresters).