Surge arrester for a plurality of lines to be safeguarded

A surge arrester, comprising:

• a plurality of individual arresters each connected at one of its two electrode terminals to a respective one of a plurality of electric lines;
• a common arrester connected in series to the individual arresters and connected at one of its two electrode terminals to the other electrode terminal of each of the individual arresters;
• the other electrode terminal of the common arrester being connected to a reference potential;
• the individual arresters and the common arrester being arranged in a metal beaker-shaped housing;
• a metal plate in an interior of the metal housing serving as an electrode terminal in common to all arresters;
• and
• the metal plate having a portion cooperating with the metal housing and forming a capacitor in parallel to the common arrester which is greater than an effective capacitance in parallel with the individual arresters such that a capacitance voltage divider is formed which causes ignition of at least one of the individual arresters prior to ignition of the common arrester.