Arc suppressing circuit employing a triggerable electronic switch to protect switch contacts

An arc suppressing circuit comprising:

• a first switch;
• a second switch connected in series with the first switch at a common node;
• a relay coil configured to simultaneously operate the first and second switches;
• an electronic switch connected in parallel to the series connection of the first and second switches, wherein the electronic switch is configured to be triggered when a voltage difference occurs between the common node and at least one terminal of the electronic switch.

A method of suppressing an arc in a switching circuit, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first switch having first and second contacts;
• providing a second switch having third and fourth contacts;
• connecting the third contact electrically in series with the second contact of the first switch at a node;
• connecting a triggerable electronic switch electrically in parallel with the first and second switches with a gate electrode of the electronic switch connected to the node between the first and second switches;
• and
• triggering the triggerable electronic switch to a conducting state when a voltage difference occurs between the node and at least one terminal of the electronic switch to thereby extinguish arcing occurring in at least one of the first and second switches.