The disclosure includes an ignition control circuit comprising a transformer
having at its secondary side an operating winding, and at least one filament winding.
In a pre-heating phase, only the filament winding, which is normally connected
to the filaments of a lamp, is active. In this way, the filaments of the lamp are
heated first. After a predetermined time, the secondary operating winding is switched
on, by a triac. This triac is a compact component producing no or little heat.
The invention provides a simple and economic ignition circuit for gas discharge lamps.
