Protector Device with Improved Capacity to Break Follow Current

A device ( 1 ) to protect electrical equipment against transient overvoltages, comprising (i) a spark gap having an intrinsic follow current interrupting capacity and (ii) an element ( 5 ) for improving the follow current interrupting power, which co-operates with the spark gap ( 2 ) such that the resulting follow current interrupting capacity of the protective device ( 1 ) is essentially greater than the aforementioned intrinsic capacity. When the equipment has a suspected short-circuit current that exceeds the intrinsic interrupting capacity of the spark gap ( 2 ), element ( 5 ) comprises a means ( 6 ) for limiting the intensity of the electric current that can pass through the spark gap ( 2 ), said limiting means ( 6 ) being specifically designed and mounted in relation to the spark gap ( 2 ) in order to limit the intensity of the follow current, such that the follow current can be interrupted thanks to the intrinsic follow current interrupting capacity of the spark gap ( 2 ).