An electronic ballast (40) includes a filter capacitor (26) coupled to the output of a rectifier circuit (25) and a surge limiter (41, 43) connected in series with the filter capacitor for limiting current through the filter capacitor when power is first applied to the ballast. The surge limiter includes a resistor (41) and an SCR (43) connected in parallel between the filter capacitor and a common rail (56). The SCR is triggered by a signal derived from voltages within the ballast. A diode (49), connected anti-parallel with the SCR, by-passes the resistor when current is drawn from the filter capacitor.
