An overvoltage device that is formed from a MOV device that is coupled in
parallel with a spark gap. This device is coupled upstream from
electronic components to protect these components from damage. For
example, in one embodiment, the overvoltage device is coupled to a fault
circuit interrupter such as a GFCI, across the phase and neutral lines to
protect components of the GFCI from an overvoltage condition. In one
embodiment the overvoltage device is formed as an MOV physically coupled
to a spark gap wherein the MOV and the spark gap are electrically coupled
across the phase line and the neutral line in parallel.