PROTECTIVE DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR FOR THE CONTROL ELECTRONICS OF A MOTOR VEHICLE COMPONENT

A protective device for control electronics of a motor vehicle component, such as a radiator fan drive, has a thermal protection element between the control electronics and a connecting lead frame. The thermal protection element trips when the temperature in the control electronics rises above a threshold temperature value. The thermal protection element has two conductor segments with conductor ends facing each other and forming an interruption point and one connecting end each. The interruption point is bridged by a fluxing agent, the fusion temperature of which is matched to the threshold temperature value. One of the connecting ends of the thermal protection element is connected to a contact of the connecting lead frame and the other connecting end is connected to a contact of the control electronics.