The
voltage limiter is used to effectively limit short-term and long-term overvoltages. Said
voltage limiter has a
varistor (1) and a
discharge path which can be connected in parallel with the
varistor. The
discharge path contains a switching point (4), which is preferably in the form of a
semiconductor switch and can be loaded with an uninterrupted current, and which can be closed above a
limit value of a
signal which is dependent on an operating variable of the
varistor (1). The varistor (1) is arranged in a first area (24) and the switching point (4) is arranged in a second area (26) of two areas (24, 26, 28) which are at an
axial distance from one another in the direction of an
axis of symmetry (20). Means (5) for operating the switching point (4) are accommodated in a third area (28), which is at a defined potential. The arrangement of the components (1, 4, 5) of the
voltage limiter in separate areas (24, 26, 28) results in a compact,
modular construction, and those components of the voltage limiter which are subject to power loading, namely the varistor (1) and the switching point (5), are physically separated from one another, so that they can be cooled independently of one another. Since the operating means (5), which generally operate electronically, are accommodated in an electromagnetically shielded area (28), the
operational reliability of the voltage limiter is at the same time improved, and, in particular, undesirable high-energy
electromagnetic interference is kept away from this area (28).