The invention relates to a surge protection device (5). The surge protection device (5) has an arrester (1). The arrester (1) should produce an equalization between different potentials and arrest a surge current during use. A sensor (2) is provided on the arrester (1), said sensor (2) generating an electric switch-off signal (4). A switching device (3) receives the switch-off signal (4) and separates the arrester (1) from an electric circuit, said switching device (3) and arrester (1) being arranged in a physically separate manner from each other.