Arrangement for shutting off an inverter

摘要

A shut-off device is provided for an inverter which feeds at least one discharge lamp, the shut-off device operable to shut-off the inverter in limiting cases and remaining in this condition until a lamp replacement. The shut-off device flips into its normal condition when a holding current in a monitoring circuit falls below a flyback limit value. In order to keep the losses as low as possible, the monitoring circuit is dimensioned high-resistant and a separate holding circuit is provided, the separate holding circuit having a controlled dependency on the low control current in the monitoring circuit. In the disconnect case, the control current also suffices to hold the shut-off device in the disconnect condition when an electrode is broken.