A direct current arc chute comprising: a ferromagnetic base having a first end and an opposite second end; a first ferromagnetic side member disposed from the first end of the ferromagnetic base; a second ferromagnetic side member disposed from the opposite second end of the ferromagnetic base; a third ferromagnetic member disposed from the ferromagnetic base intermediate the first and second ferromagnetic side members, said third ferromagnetic member having an end portion opposite the ferromagnetic base; a first permanent magnet disposed on the first ferromagnetic side member, said first permanent magnet having a first magnetic polarity facing the third ferromagnetic member; a second permanent magnet disposed on the second ferromagnetic side member, said second permanent magnet having the first magnetic polarity facing the third ferromagnetic member; a first arc chamber disposed between said first ferromagnetic side member and said third ferromagnetic member, said first arc chamber comprising a plurality of arc splitter plates; and a second arc chamber disposed between said second ferromagnetic side member and said third ferromagnetic member, said second arc chamber comprising a plurality of arc splitter plates, wherein said first permanent magnet and said first ferromagnetic side member extend away from the first end of the ferromagnetic base and beyond the end portion of said third ferromagnetic member, wherein said second permanent magnet and said second ferromagnetic side member extend away from the opposite second end of the ferromagnetic base and beyond the end portion of said third ferromagnetic member, characterized in that: said first permanent magnet and said first ferromagnetic side member extend toward said second permanent magnet and said second ferromagnetic side member after the end portion of said third ferromagnetic member, and said second permanent magnet and said second ferromagnetic side member extend toward said first permanent magnet and said first ferromagnetic side member after the end portion of said third ferromagnetic member. a ferromagnetic base having a first end and an opposite second end; a first ferromagnetic side member disposed from the first end of the ferromagnetic base; a second ferromagnetic side member disposed from the opposite second end of the ferromagnetic base; a third ferromagnetic member disposed from the ferromagnetic base intermediate the first and second ferromagnetic side members, said third ferromagnetic member having an end portion opposite the ferromagnetic base; a first permanent magnet disposed on the first ferromagnetic side member, said first permanent magnet having a first magnetic polarity facing the third ferromagnetic member; a second permanent magnet disposed on the second ferromagnetic side member, said second permanent magnet having the first magnetic polarity facing the third ferromagnetic member; a first arc chamber disposed between said first ferromagnetic side member and said third ferromagnetic member, said first arc chamber comprising a plurality of arc splitter plates; and a second arc chamber disposed between said second ferromagnetic side member and said third ferromagnetic member, said second arc chamber comprising a plurality of arc splitter plates, wherein said first permanent magnet and said first ferromagnetic side member extend away from the first end of the ferromagnetic base and beyond the end portion of said third ferromagnetic member, wherein said second permanent magnet and said second ferromagnetic side member extend away from the opposite second end of the ferromagnetic base and beyond the end portion of said third ferromagnetic member, said first permanent magnet and said first ferromagnetic side member extend toward said second permanent magnet and said second ferromagnetic side member after the end portion of said third ferromagnetic member, and said second permanent magnet and said second ferromagnetic side member extend toward said first permanent magnet and said first ferromagnetic side member after the end portion of said third ferromagnetic member.