Current-limiting circuit for limiting the magnitude of an alternating current comprising - a coil unit and a capacitor unit, which are connected electrically in series, and - a bypass device for electrically bypassing the capacitor unit in the event of the occurrence of an excess current, wherein - the bypass device has a first bypass branch for bypassing the capacitor unit, wherein the first bypass branch has a first bypass element, in particular a power semiconductor switch, - the bypass device has a second bypass branch for bypassing the capacitor unit, wherein the second bypass branch is connected electrically in parallel with the first bypass branch, and the second bypass branch has a second bypass element, in particular a spark gap, - a control unit is configured in such a way that said control unit generates a first bypass signal when the electrical current flowing through the coil unit exceeds a first threshold value, wherein the first bypass signal is intended to cause the first bypass element to close, and - the control unit is configured in such a way that said control unit generates a second bypass signal, wherein the second bypass signal is intended to cause the second bypass element to close when the first bypass element does not close in response to the first bypass signal, characterized in that - the bypass device has a third bypass branch for bypassing the second bypass element, wherein the third bypass branch is connected electrically in parallel with the second bypass element, and the third bypass branch has a mechanical bypass switch as third bypass element, and - the control unit is configured in such a way that said control unit transmits a third bypass signal to the third bypass element together with the first bypass signal and together with the second bypass signal or with a slight time delay after the first bypass signal or the second bypass signal, after which the third bypass element closes and thereupon an alternating current previously flowing through the first bypass element or through the second bypass element switches to the third bypass element. - a coil unit and a capacitor unit, which are connected electrically in series, and - a bypass device for electrically bypassing the capacitor unit in the event of the occurrence of an excess current, wherein - the bypass device has a first bypass branch for bypassing the capacitor unit, wherein the first bypass branch has a first bypass element, in particular a power semiconductor switch, - the bypass device has a second bypass branch for bypassing the capacitor unit, wherein the second bypass branch is connected electrically in parallel with the first bypass branch, and the second bypass branch has a second bypass element, in particular a spark gap, - a control unit is configured in such a way that said control unit generates a first bypass signal when the electrical current flowing through the coil unit exceeds a first threshold value, wherein the first bypass signal is intended to cause the first bypass element to close, and - the control unit is configured in such a way that said control unit generates a second bypass signal, wherein the second bypass signal is intended to cause the second bypass element to close when the first bypass element does not close in response to the first bypass signal, - the bypass device has a third bypass branch for bypassing the second bypass element, wherein the third bypass branch is connected electrically in parallel with the second bypass element, and the third bypass branch has a mechanical bypass switch as third bypass element, and - the control unit is configured in such a way that said control unit transmits a third bypass signal to the third bypass element together with the first bypass signal and together with the second bypass signal or with a slight time delay after the first bypass signal or the second bypass signal, after which the third bypass element closes and thereupon an alternating current previously flowing through the first bypass element or through the second bypass element switches to the third bypass element.