A solid state switch for connecting and disconnecting an electrical device has at least one FET-type device and at least one thyristor-type device coupled in parallel to the at least one FET-type device. A gate driver is operative to send gate drive signals to the at least one FET-type device and to the at least one thyristor-type device for providing current to the electrical device. The gate driver is constructed to control a split of the current as between the at least one FET-type device and the at least one thyristor-type device.

Disclosed herein is a static transfer switch and methods of operating the same. The static transfer switch includes a first switch between a first voltage source and a load, and a second switch between a second voltage source and the load. The first switch and the second switch are configured to alternate power to the load between the first voltage source or the second voltage source. The static transfer switch also includes a first parallel circuit branch coupled in parallel to the first switch, the first parallel circuit branch comprising a first passive element and a first auxiliary switch.

Disclosed herein is a static transfer switch and methods of operating the same. The static transfer switch includes a first switch between a first voltage source and a load, and a second switch between a second voltage source and the load. The first switch and the second switch are configured to alternate power to the load between the first voltage source or the second voltage source. The static transfer switch also includes a first parallel circuit branch coupled in parallel to the first switch, the first parallel circuit branch comprising a first passive element and a first auxiliary switch.