Patent ID: 8582264

Claim:
Overvoltage protection element, comprising: a housing, at least one overvoltage limiting component which is located in the housing ( 2 ), terminal elements for electrical connection of the overvoltage protection element to a current or signal path which is to be protected, and a state display which has a display element for displaying the usage state of the overvoltage protection element, wherein a thermally activatable, endothermic material is provided in thermal contact with the overvoltage limiting component and also in mechanical contact with the display element of the state display, wherein the thermally activatable, endothermic material is expandable in response to heating of the overvoltage limiting component above a certain minimum temperature, wherein the display element is movable by expansion of the thermally activatable, endothermic material, the degree to which the display element is moved being providing a measure of the heating of the overvoltage limiting component, and wherein the thermally activatable, endothermic material is a material which is irreversibly expanded as a result of the heating of the overvoltage limiting component above said minimum temperature.