Abstract: Overvoltage protection equipment may include: a first connection; a second connection; a first discharge path disposed between the first and the second connections, wherein the first discharge path comprises a spark gap; a second discharge path disposed between the first and the second connections, wherein the second discharge path comprises a triggerable circuit breaker and a thermistor connected in series; and a control device that induces the triggerable circuit breaker to switch on, based on at least one of a state or a state path of the first discharge path as a result of a discharge event.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a device for diverting surge currents or transient overvoltages (1), with a switching stage (2) and a switching element (3). The switching stage (2) is so designed as to switch on the switching element (3) upon identification of an overvoltage or a surge current. The switching element (3) is a reversible semiconductor switching element, while the switch-on event is achieved by operating of the switching element (3) outside of the specified parameters.