Tridonic Bauelemente Gmbh

Falk Richter

Siegfried Luger

Thomas Marinelli

Method for detecting the rectification effect in at least one gas discharge lamp (10) and electronic ballast for operating at least one gas discharge lamp, which recognises the appearance of the rectification effect in the gas discharge lamp (10). In order to be able to detect the appearance of the rectification effect in the gas discharge lamp (10) simply and with high sensitivity there is monitored the current (i.sub.1) flowing via a primary winding (7A), connected parallel to the gas discharge lamp (10), of a heating transformer (7A-C) or a parameter (i.sub.2, u.sub.3) dependent upon this current (i.sub.1) , and in the event that a predetermined limit value is overshot the presence of the rectification effect in the gas discharge lamp (10) is determined.

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Dornbirn, Austria

Falk Richter