Ham Radio Extra Class Practice Test 2025 - Free Extra Class License Exam Questions and Study Guide

The component that is primarily used to prevent damage from overvoltage in radio equipment is a lightning arrestor. Lightning arrestors are designed to divert and safely dissipate the high voltages and surges caused by lightning strikes or other electrical surges, protecting sensitive radio equipment from potential damage. They monitor voltage levels and act as a protective pathway, ensuring excess voltage does not reach the radio equipment.

While capacitors can be involved in filtering and energy storage, they do not specifically protect against overvoltage. Resistors deal with current control and do not typically prevent overvoltage conditions. Transformers are used to step up or step down voltage levels in a circuit but do not inherently prevent excessive voltage from occurring in the first place. Each of these other components has important functions, but when it comes to safeguarding equipment against overvoltage specifically, a lightning arrestor is the most effective choice.