Metal oxide surge arresters (MOSAs) are a popular solution for dealing with overvoltages
due to lightning and switching in power distribution networks. As a result, a MOSA’s performance
and longevity have a significant impact on the quality of energy and the frequency of outages. A
MOSA performance is determined by several elements such as leakage current, partial discharge,
and thermal image measured in various ways. In this study, different techniques for diagnostic and
condition monitoring of MOSAs are discussed, and each method’s advantages and disadvantages are
investigated. Additionally, the results of practical tests on two 20 kV healthy and degraded MOSAs
are investigated and compared.