Patent ID: 8179652

Claim:
Overvoltage protection element, comprising: a housing, at least one overvoltage-limiting component located in the housing, at least two connecting elements for electrical connection of the overvoltage protection element to a current or signal path to be protected, and an electrically conducting disconnection element which, in a normal state of the overvoltage protection element, has a first end in electrically conductive contact with a first of the connecting elements and a second end in electrically conductive contact with the overvoltage-limiting component, wherein the second end of the disconnection element is connected via a solder connection to the overvoltage-limiting component, wherein the solder connection between the overvoltage-limiting component and the second end of the disconnection element is adapted to separate when the temperature of the overvoltage-limiting component exceeds a given threshold value so that a disconnection point forms when the overvoltage-limiting element is thermally overloaded thereby electrically isolating the overvoltage-limiting element, and wherein a second disconnection point is provided between the first end of the disconnection element and the first connecting element which is adapted to interrupt electrically conductive contact between the first end of the disconnection element and the first connecting element when the first disconnection point is opened.