Lightning protection spark gap assembly and method for operating a lightning protection spark gap assembly

A lightning protection spark gap assembly having:

• a lightning protection spark gap (1;
• 1′) having a first main connection (1a) and a second main connection (1b);
• wherein a first voltage line (S1) of a supply network can be connected to the first main connection (1a) and a second voltage line of the supply network can be connected to the second main connection (1b);
• a fusible link device (8) which can be triggered by a bridge igniter (7) and is connected between the first or second voltage line (S1, S2) and the corresponding main connection (1, 1b) of the lightning protection spark gap (1;
• 1′);
• and
• an indicator device (4′;
• 4″;
• 4′″) for capturing a power follow current profile following a pulse current profile or a corresponding portion of the power follow current profile and for triggering the fusible link device (8) by activating the bridge igniter (7) if the captured power follow current profile or the corresponding portion of the power follow current profile satisfies a first predefined criterion,
• wherein the lightning protection spark gap (1;
• 1′) has a first and a second diverging electrode (21a, 21b) and a quenching chamber (25);
• wherein the indicator device (4′;
• 4″;
• 4′″) is electrically connected to the first or second diverging electrode (21a, 21b) and/or to the quenching chamber (25) in such a manner that it captures the power follow current profile or the corresponding portion of the power follow current profile in the running region (L) of the arc.