An apparatus for detecting and suppressing DC electric arcs at a component that connects an electric power source to a load and that is configured to be actuable between an open position that impedes flow of electricity and a closed position that enables flow of electricity, the apparatus comprising: an input terminal electrically connected to a power source side of the component; an output terminal electrically connected to a load side of the component; a detector circuit electrically connected to the input and output terminals so as to be electrically connected in parallel to the component, wherein the detector circuit includes a capacitor that is directly electrically connected to the input terminal and a diode that is directly electrically connected to the capacitor at the side opposite from the input terminal, and a switching circuit that conducts electricity from the power source side of the component to the load side of the component; wherein the detector circuit being configured to detect a significant voltage spike across the component upon the component actuating between open and closed positions, the detector circuit also being configured to transmit a control signal upon detecting the significant voltage spike, the detector circuit including multiple circuit elements, enabling both the detection of the significant voltage spike and the transmission of the control signal, that are directly electrically connected to each other; and the switching circuit conducts electricity from the power source side of the component to the load side of the component upon receipt of the control signal; characterized in that the detector circuit includes a resistor one side of which is directly electrically connected between the capacitor at a side opposite from the input terminal and the diode and the other side of which is directly electrically connected to the output terminal; and the detector circuit includes a Zener diode and another resistor, the Zener diode being directly electrically connected on one side between the diode and the switching circuit and on the other side through the other resistor to the output terminal. an input terminal electrically connected to a power source side of the component; an output terminal electrically connected to a load side of the component; a detector circuit electrically connected to the input and output terminals so as to be electrically connected in parallel to the component, wherein the detector circuit includes a capacitor that is directly electrically connected to the input terminal and a diode that is directly electrically connected to the capacitor at the side opposite from the input terminal, and a switching circuit that conducts electricity from the power source side of the component to the load side of the component; wherein the detector circuit being configured to detect a significant voltage spike across the component upon the component actuating between open and closed positions, the detector circuit also being configured to transmit a control signal upon detecting the significant voltage spike, the detector circuit including multiple circuit elements, enabling both the detection of the significant voltage spike and the transmission of the control signal, that are directly electrically connected to each other; and the switching circuit conducts electricity from the power source side of the component to the load side of the component upon receipt of the control signal; characterized in that the detector circuit includes a resistor one side of which is directly electrically connected between the capacitor at a side opposite from the input terminal and the diode and the other side of which is directly electrically connected to the output terminal; and the detector circuit includes a Zener diode and another resistor, the Zener diode being directly electrically connected on one side between the diode and the switching circuit and on the other side through the other resistor to the output terminal.