Voltage surge suppression device

An electrical distribution panel for supplying electrical power from a main supply to a plurality of circuits comprising a main housing, a main supply bus mounted in the main housing, a neutral return, a ground connection, a first plurality of overcurrent circuit interrupter devices each having a housing containing circuit interrupter means and a contact terminal for engaging said main supply bus, a second plurality of receptacle locations in the main housing, each shape and arranged to receive one of said plurality of overcurrent circuit interrupter devices with the housing thereof received within the respective receptacle location and the contact terminal thereof engaged with said main supply bus, the second plurality being greater than the first plurality so as to leave at least one of said receptacle locations free from a respective interrupter device, and a voltage surge suppression device comprising a housing shaped and arranged for mounting in one of said receptacle locations, a contact element mounted in the housing of the suppression device for directly contacting the bus, voltage surge suppression circuit means provided in the housing of the suppression device responsive to a voltage surge, and at least two connector lead means, each connecting the circuit means to a respective one of the said neutral return and said ground connection, said housing of said suppression device being mounted in one of said receptacle locations which is free from an interrupter device and an overcurrent circuit interrupter device connected integrally with said voltage surge suppression circuit means within said housing of said suppression device, said overcurrent circuit interrupter device and said voltage surge suppression circuit means being arranged such that an overvoltage at said main supply bus is converted by said voltage surge suppression circuit means to an overcurrent through said voltage surge suppression circuit means which acts to actuate said overcurrent circuit interrupter device, and said voltage surge suppression circuit means being arranged to be responsive to any one of transients, spikes, harmonics, over/under voltages and high frequency interference.