The present invention provides an overvoltage protection spark gap assembly and a method for operating an overvoltage protection spark gap assembly. The overvoltage protection spark gap assembly comprises a first overvoltage protection spark gap (1) which has a first main terminal (1a) and a second main terminal (1b); a second overvoltage protection spark gap (1) which has a third main terminal (1a) and a fourth main terminal (1b). The first main terminal (1a) can be connected to a first voltage line (S1) of a supply network via a first terminal contact (A1) and the fourth main terminal (1b) can be connected to a second voltage line (S2) of the supply network via a second terminal contact (A2). The second main terminal (1b) and the third main terminal (1a) are electrically connected to one another. A first electrically conductive probe device (K2) is introduced into, or in the vicinity of, a wear part (38) of the first overvoltage protection spark gap (1) such that, in the event of a specific degree of wear, the first electrically conductive probe device (K2) comes electrically into contact with an arc (41) in the first overvoltage protection spark gap (1). The second overvoltage protection spark gap (1) has a second electrically conductive probe device (33) which comes electrically into contact with an arc in the second overvoltage protection spark gap (1). The first electrically conductive probe device (K2) and the second electrically conductive probe device (33) are electrically connected to one another via an activation device (28; 4) which outputs an activation signal (S) in order to activate a disconnecting device (A; 7, 8, 11, 12) if a flow of current or a corresponding portion of the flow of current between the first and second probe device (K2; 33) satisfies a specified criterion.

An optoelectronic component device includes first and second electrodes; a first optoelectronic component electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes; and a first electrically conductive section electrically coupled to the first electrode, and a second electrically conductive section electrically coupled to the second electrode; wherein the first and second electrically conductive sections are arranged electrically in parallel with the first optoelectronic component; wherein the first and second electrically conductive sections are arranged and configured relative to one another such that, beyond a response voltage applied over the first and second conductive sections, a discharge path is formed between the first and second conductive sections; and wherein the response voltage has as its value a value formed greater than the threshold voltage value of the first optoelectronic component and less than or equal to the value of the breakdown voltage of the first optoelectronic component.

The invention relates to an arrangement for overload protection for overvoltage protection equipment that has at least one voltage-limiting element and at least one voltage-switching element, and optionally with a back-up fuse, wherein the voltage-limiting element is in the form of a varistor and the voltage-switching element is in the form of a spark gap and these elements are connected in series. According to the invention, to protect against inadmissible pulsed currents, the voltage-limiting element in the series circuit has a monitoring spark gap, forming a bypass, connected in parallel with it. Furthermore, a monitoring device, e.g. a thermal monitoring device, is provided that bypasses both the monitoring spark gap and the voltage-switching element in the event of ageing effects, inadmissibly high mains voltages and/or low-energy, periodic, high-frequency overvoltages.

The present disclosure provides a surge protection device comprising a surge arrestor and an arrestor assistor. The surge arrestor is arranged within a circuit branch connected in parallel with a load and adapted to clamp a load voltage to a clamping voltage not larger than a load voltage limit when the load voltage rises to a breakdown voltage of the surge arrestor, the breakdown voltage increasing with a rising rate of the load voltage. The arrestor assistor is connected in parallel with the surge arrestor within the circuit branch and adapted to make the load voltage rise to the breakdown voltage not larger than the load voltage limit. The present disclosure also provides a telecommunication equipment comprising the surge protection device.

An overvoltage protection spark gap assembly includes a first overvoltage protection spark gap (1) which has a first main terminal (1a) and a second main terminal (1b); and a second overvoltage protection spark gap (1) which has a third main terminal (1a) and a fourth main terminal (1b). The second main terminal (1b) and the third main terminal (1a) are electrically connected together. A first electrically conductive probe device (K2) is introduced into a wear part (38) of the first overvoltage protection spark gap (1) such that, in the event of a specific degree of wear, the first electrically conductive probe device (K2) comes electrically into contact with an arc (41) in the first overvoltage protection spark gap (1). The second overvoltage protection spark gap (1) has a second electrically conductive probe device (33) which comes electrically into contact with an arc in the second overvoltage protection spark gap (1).