An electrical switching arrangement for an electrical power supply includes a live conductor. The live conductor includes electrodes for switching between first and second sides of the live conductor. The electrical switching arrangement also includes a ground conductor, an insulation block between the electrodes and the ground conductor, a first insulation member extending from the insulation block on the first side of the electrodes, and a second insulation member extending from the insulation block on the second side of the electrodes. The insulation block includes a first groove in which an edge of the first insulation member is located and a second groove in which an edge of the second insulation member is located.

An electrical switching arrangement for an electrical power supply includes a live conductor. The live conductor includes electrodes for switching between first and second sides of the live conductor. The electrical switching arrangement also includes a ground conductor, an insulation block between the electrodes and the ground conductor, a first insulation member extending from the insulation block on the first side of the electrodes, and a second insulation member extending from the insulation block on the second side of the electrodes. The insulation block includes a first groove in which an edge of the first insulation member is located and a second groove in which an edge of the second insulation member is located.

An electric high-voltage device includes a fluid-tight housing, a high-voltage component arranged in the housing, and an insulating liquid in the housing in order to electrically insulate the high-voltage component. The high-voltage component is a passive current collector which is configured to at least temporarily conduct a current of at least 1 kA. There is also described a power converter assembly with the high-voltage device.

An arrester for lightning protection of electrical equipment or power transmission lines is disclosed. The arrester comprises an insulating body made of a dielectric and five or more electrodes mechanically connected to the insulating body and arranged to allow the formation of an electric discharge between adjacent electrodes under the influence of lightning overvoltage. The electrodes are located inside the insulating body and separated from its surface by a layer of insulation. Adjacent electrodes exit into discharge chambers having outlets to the surface of the insulating body. At least a part of the discharge chambers is provided with pressurizing chambers located near the electrodes and connected to the discharge chambers through the discharge gaps between adjacent electrodes. Thanks to the invention, the discharge arc is extinguished after the passage of the lightning overvoltage pulse before the follow current having the industrial frequency passes through zero, mainly immediately after the lightning overvoltage pulse.

A gas discharge tube includes a housing defining a chamber, first and second terminal electrodes mounted on the housing, a plurality of inner electrodes located in the chamber, and a gas contained in the chamber. The inner electrodes are serially disposed in the chamber in spaced apart relation to define a series of spark gaps from the first terminal electrode to the second terminal electrode. The chamber is hermetically sealed.

A plasma power limiter fabricated using wafer-level fabrication techniques with other circuit elements. The power limiter includes a signal substrate having a first side and a second side, an input signal line formed on the first side, a signal transmission line formed on the second side and an output signal line formed on the first side. The power limiter also includes a ground substrate having a first side and a second side, and being bonded to the signal substrate to form a sealed cavity including an ionizable gas therebetween. The ground substrate includes a ground metal layer formed on the second side. A signal propagating on the input signal line at a power level greater than a threshold power level generates a voltage potential across the cavity that ionizes the gas and generates a plasma discharge, and limits power of the output signal coupled to the output signal line.

A plasma power limiter fabricated using wafer-level fabrication techniques with other circuit elements. The power limiter includes a signal substrate having a first side and a second side, an input signal line formed on the first side, a signal transmission line formed on the second side and an output signal line formed on the first side. The power limiter also includes a ground substrate having a first side and a second side, and being bonded to the signal substrate to form a sealed cavity including an ionizable gas therebetween. The ground substrate includes a ground metal layer formed on the second side. A signal propagating on the input signal line at a power level greater than a threshold power level generates a voltage potential across the cavity that ionizes the gas and generates a plasma discharge, and limits power of the output signal coupled to the output signal line.

An arrester is disclosed. In an embodiment, the arrester includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a switching contact, a first discharge space between the first and second electrodes and a short-circuiting mechanism suitable for short-circuiting the first and second electrodes and for switching a state of the arrester, wherein, in a first state, at least one electrode of the first and second electrodes is not electrically conductively connected to the switching contact and, in a second state, the at least one electrode is electrically conductively connected to the switching contact.

A multi-step tube (1) of a ceramic material comprises a tube body (1) of the ceramic material having an inner wall (11) located inside the tube body (1). A surface of the inner wall (11) is formed with a plurality of steps (2). The steps (2) are formed to extend differently far inside the tube (1). A multi-layered gas discharge tube comprises the multi-step tube (1). An inner electrode (31) is disposed on a step (21), and an outer electrode (41) is disposed on an outer surface (13) of the tube body (1). A disc (51) is partially placed on a step (22) and the inner electrode (31) between the inner electrode (31) and the outer electrode (41) so that, in case of an electrostatic discharge, the discharge will only take place in the center of the multi-step tube (1) and not at the border of the isolated ceramic disc (51).

A multi-step tube (1) of a ceramic material comprises a tube body (1) of the ceramic material having an inner wall (11) located inside the tube body (1). A surface of the inner wall (11) is formed with a plurality of steps (2). The steps (2) are formed to extend differently far inside the tube (1). A multi-layered gas discharge tube comprises the multi-step tube (1). An inner electrode (31) is disposed on a step (21), and an outer electrode (41) is disposed on an outer surface (13) of the tube body (1). A disc (51) is partially placed on a step (22) and the inner electrode (31) between the inner electrode (31) and the outer electrode (41) so that, in case of an electrostatic discharge, the discharge will only take place in the center of the multi-step tube (1) and not at the border of the isolated ceramic disc (51).