The device (2) has a slide (50) connected to a movable arcing contact (14) via a moving part (18). An actuator is utilized for moving the moving part for separating the arcing contact and a fixed arcing contact (12) of a switch (8). A shape of the slide is designed such that the arcing contacts remain stationary during a period of time while the movable arcing contact of the switch moves relative to the fixed arcing contact during the predetermined period of time.