A disconnect switch is provided for a metal-clad, pressurized-gas insulated, high-voltage switchgear installation. The disconnect switch includes: first and second contact assemblies which have a common longitudinal axis and are switchable between an open position and a closed position. An isolating tube is positioned inside one of the first contact assemblies and is movable therein along the axis during a switching operation between an open position at which the contact element is completely within the said one contact assembly and a closed position at which the said contact element engages the other contact assembly. First and second resistors are positioned within the isolating tube and are movable along the axis inside the isolating tube during switching toward and from the other of the contact assemblies. The disconnect switch for a metal-clad, pressurized-gas insulated, high-voltage switchgear installation discourages generating of high frequency oscillations and arcing to the metal of the encapsulation during switching. The disconnect switch uses two resistors of equal size which move inside an isolating tube to make electrical contact prior to the main contacts and to break electrical contact after the main contacts. In this manner, the arc is encouraged to exist between the two resistors inside the isolating tube.
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