An exciter for an electrical power generator includes a shaft, an armature connected
to the shaft, a field surrounding the armature to cause the armature to generate
an alternating current, and a rectifying wheel The rectifying wheel includes a
plurality of semiconductor switching devices connected to the rectifying wheel
and arranged in a bridge configuration for rectifying the alternating current from
the field. A respective non-linear protection device is connected in parallel with
each of the semiconductor switching devices.
