An apparatus for the detection of a current in a protection and metering current range comprises one current sensor, which generates a voltage signal, and a voltage-limited electronic element. For metering voltage signals exceeding the upper metering voltage limit of the electronic element or for protection voltage signals exceeding the upper protection voltage limit of the electronic element an attenuation element with an attenuation factor being larger than unity is electrically connected to the current sensor. The attenuation factor is chosen in such a way that the metering voltage signal divided by the attenuation factor is smaller than or equal to the upper electronic element metering voltage limit or the protection voltage signal divided by the attenuation factor is smaller than or equal to the upper electronic element protection voltage limit.