Electronic switch

An electronic switch, comprising

• a first consumer-side terminal,
• a first source-side terminal and a second source-side terminal,
• a first semiconductor switch arranged between the first source-side terminal and the first consumer-side terminal, and
• a switch embodied as a thyristor and arranged between the first consumer-side terminal and the second source-side terminal, with the switch being configured to generate a thermal overload from a short-circuit current produced when the switch closes,
• wherein the thermal overload causes the first semiconductor switch to irreversibly transition into an open state due to a modification inside the first semiconductor switch caused by the thermal overload.

An electrical network, comprising:

• an energy source, and
• at least one electronic switch having
• a first source-side terminal and a second source-side terminal connected to the energy source, and a first consumer-side terminal,
• the at least one semiconductor switch being arranged between the first source-side terminal and the first consumer-side terminal, and
• a switch embodied as a thyristor and arranged between the first consumer-side terminal and the second source-side terminal, with the switch being configured to generate a thermal overload from a short-circuit current produced when the switch closes,
• wherein the thermal overload causes the at least one semiconductor switch to irreversibly transition into an open state due a modification inside the at least one semiconductor switch caused by the thermal overload.

A method for operating at least one electronic switch or an electrical network comprising the at least one electronic switch, the method comprising:

• connecting the at least one semiconductor switch between a first source-side terminal connected to an energy source and a first consumer-side terminal;
• connecting a switch embodied as a thyristor between the first consumer-side terminal and a second source-side terminal connected to the energy source;
• and
• generating with the switch a thermal overload from a short-circuit current produced when the switch closes, with the thermal overload simultaneously causing the first semiconductor switch to irreversibly transition into an open state due to a modification of the first semiconductor switch.