Abstract: An electronic current overload protection device in which an applied voltage is divided into the voltage across the load and the current-proportional voltage drop at an MOS transistor of a circuit that includes the load and the MOS transistor whose resistance is exactly linearly proportional to the current; this voltage drop is applied by way of a delay circuit to a threshold switch that controls the gate input of the MOS transistor by way of a driver stage; the threshold of the threshold circuit is adjustable corresponding to the current to be protected against.