Abstract This work aims is to design, fabricate and test a gas surge arrester with optimum characteristics based on testing the influence of all parameters that affect the characteristics of gas surge arresters for the coordination of low voltage isolation. After extensive research on the surge arrester model and reviewing all available literature, a three-electrode prototype surge arrester was made. The prototype gas used was a mixture of 0.8 He + 0.2 SF6 and the working point was set to the right of Pashen’s minimum. Examination of thus constructed prototype and three commercial surge arresters of the same nominal voltage has shown that the surge arrester model was better in every respect. It should be noted that using the developed model, gas arresters with radioactive charging can be discarded, which is important for environmental reasons. The obtained results are very important in power engineering since the operation and control of the operation of power circuits, which are the source of overvoltage which are performed by electronic circuits.