Patent ID: 11811172

Abstract:
An electrical connector provided with a varistor, and to a protection device for incorporation into an electrical connector and having a varistor comprising at least two pins including a first pin which is a live (502) or neutral (504) pin and a second pin which is an earth pin (506), the first and second pins (502, 504, 506) extending through respective apertures (512) in a varistor plate (514) which has first and second faces, wherein a first conductive layer on the first face of the varistor plate (514) connects electrically to the first pin (502, 504) and a second conductive region on the second face of the varistor plate connects electrically to the second pin (506), so that in response to an excessive voltage across the first (502, 504) and second (506) pins the varistor plate will conduct electricity between the first (502, 504) and second (506) pins. The arrangement can easily be adopted in connectors conforming to existing standards, such as existing mains electrical plugs (500).