A method for protecting an electrical transmission system having an electrical transmission line coupled to electrical equipment from hazardous EMI comprises receiving at least one pulse of hazardous EMI on the transmission line, and shunting current induced on the electrical transmission line by the at least one pulse of hazardous EMI to ground through at least one static series spark gap apparatus in such manner as to bypass high speed transient voltages from the electrical equipment to ground via a low impedance means and prevent damage thereto, wherein the static series spark gap apparatus has a rise time that is typically 2 nanoseconds or less.

An externally gapped line arrester, EGLA, for transmission lines, the EGLA including a series varistor unit, SVU, having a first end and a second end, the SVU configured to be connected between a transmission line and ground, a primary sparkover gap unit serially connected to the first end of the SVU, a secondary gap arranged between the second end of the SVU and ground, and the secondary gap serially connected to the second end of the SVU, a shorting-link device connected in parallel with the secondary gap, and a disconnecting device arranged in the shorting-link device, the disconnecting device configured to open the shorting-link device when the SVU is overloaded. A method for impulse protection performed by an EGLA is also disclosed.

An externally gapped line arrester, EGLA, for transmission lines, the EGLA including a series varistor unit, SVU, having a first end and a second end, the SVU configured to be connected between a transmission line and ground, a primary sparkover gap unit serially connected to the first end of the SVU, a secondary gap arranged between the second end of the SVU and ground, and the secondary gap serially connected to the second end of the SVU, a shorting-link device connected in parallel with the secondary gap, and a disconnecting device arranged in the shorting-link device, the disconnecting device configured to open the shorting-link device when the SVU is overloaded. A method for impulse protection performed by an EGLA is also disclosed.

An electrical fuse assembly includes a housing defining a hermetically sealed chamber, first and second terminal electrodes mounted on the housing, a gas contained in the hermetically sealed chamber, a fuse element electrically connecting the first and second terminal electrodes, and at least one spark gap between the first and second terminal electrodes. The fuse element and the at least one spark gap are disposed in the hermetically sealed chamber.

A multi-spark gap having both a high power-follow current extinguishing capacity as well as a relatively low protective level in which a distance x.sub.1 between a first electrode and an adjacent second electrode, which together form a first individual spark gap, is larger than respective distances x.sub.2 between other adjacent electrode pairs of additional individual spark gaps. The distance x1 is at least 0.5 mm and the distances x2 of the additional individual spark gaps are at most 0.2 mm. Additionally, an ignition aid for igniting the first individual spark gap is provided, which aid has at least a resistive ignition element and a voltage-limiting element, wherein the ignition element is connected to an electric-arc combustion chamber of the first individual spark gap and is electrically connected on the one side to the first electrode and on the other side via the voltage-limiting element to the second contact element.

A multi-spark gap having both a high power-follow current extinguishing capacity as well as a relatively low protective level in which a distance x.sub.1 between a first electrode and an adjacent second electrode, which together form a first individual spark gap, is larger than respective distances x.sub.2 between other adjacent electrode pairs of additional individual spark gaps. The distance x1 is at least 0.5 mm and the distances x2 of the additional individual spark gaps are at most 0.2 mm. Additionally, an ignition aid for igniting the first individual spark gap is provided, which aid has at least a resistive ignition element and a voltage-limiting element, wherein the ignition element is connected to an electric-arc combustion chamber of the first individual spark gap and is electrically connected on the one side to the first electrode and on the other side via the voltage-limiting element to the second contact element.

A multi-spark gap for an overvoltage protector, having multiple electrodes and insulation elements arranged between the electrodes, a holding arrangement for mechanical holding and for making electrical contact with the electrodes of the multi-spark gap, wherein the holding arrangement has at least a first electrically conductive clamping element, a second electrically conductive clamping element, and a first electrically conductive connecting element, wherein the electrodes are arranged between the first clamping element and the second clamping element, wherein the first clamping element makes electrical contact with the first electrode of the multi-spark gap, and wherein the second clamping element makes electrical contact with the last electrode of the multi-spark gap, and wherein the at least first connecting element mechanically connects the first clamping element and the second clamping element to one another.

In an embodiment a device includes a first arrester unit with at least one first gas-filled surge arrester and a second arrester unit with at least one second gas-filled surge arrester, wherein the first and second arrester units are connected in series with one another between a first potential node and a reference potential node, wherein the first arrester unit and the second arrester unit are different from each other, wherein the first arrester unit includes a larger response voltage than the second arrester unit, and wherein the first arrester unit includes a smaller arc voltage than the second arrester unit.

In an embodiment a device includes a first arrester unit with at least one first gas-filled surge arrester and a second arrester unit with at least one second gas-filled surge arrester, wherein the first and second arrester units are connected in series with one another between a first potential node and a reference potential node, wherein the first arrester unit and the second arrester unit are different from each other, wherein the first arrester unit includes a larger response voltage than the second arrester unit, and wherein the first arrester unit includes a smaller arc voltage than the second arrester unit.

An ignition apparatus for a spark gap arrangement containing at least a first and a second ignition capacitor for voltage division of a voltage between a first and a second electrode of the spark gap arrangement. A first trigger spark gap is arranged in a first parallel branch with respect to the first ignition capacitor, and a second trigger spark gap is arranged in a second parallel branch with respect to the second ignition capacitor. A first ignition resistor is disposed in the first parallel branch, wherein a first potential point between the first ignition resistor and the first trigger spark gap is connected to an ignition electrode of the second trigger spark gap. Furthermore, a spark gap arrangement containing the ignition apparatus, an arrangement containing a high-voltage device and the spark gap arrangement for protecting the high-voltage device, and a method for igniting the spark gap arrangement are disclosed.