Abstract:
Surge protection apparatus such as a lightning arrester is provided with a plurality of serially connected, power-handling spark gaps with a network of voltage-grading capacitors connected thereacross. A control spark gap is connected across one of the power-handing spark gaps and has a controlled and reliable sparkover characteristic. In circuit with the control spark gap are inductive and capacitive circuit elements to assure sparkover of the entire series string of power-handling spark gaps quickly upon sparkover of the control spark gap while avoiding damage to the control spark gap from excessive current flow.