Surge-limiting device for direct current networks

A surge-limiting device (10) according to the invention comprises a varistor (11) that is connected in series to a parallel circuit (12) consisting of a preferably electronic switch (13) and an electronic component (14) with a surge-limiting characteristic, preferably a Zener diode characteristic, or multiple electronic components (14) which are connected in series and each of which has a surge-limiting characteristic, preferably a Zener diode characteristic. It is thus possible to reduce comparatively high amounts of energy in high driving currents and comparatively small differences between the permissible maximum voltage and the normal operational voltage of the network (1) in order to thus ensure the protection of consumers, in particular voltage-sensitive consumers, such as power electronic converter circuits for example.