The continuity of a series-wired, lamp circuit is restored after
interruption caused by failure of a lamp filament by providing a control
relay that is wired in parallel with each lamp. A power resistor having a
resistive load substantially the same as that of a lamp filament is
arranged in series with the relay contacts, which are normally open. The
failure of a lamp filament causes a high voltage to be impressed across
the coil of the relay, causing it to pick up and its contacts to close,
thus substituting the resistor for the lamp filament and restoring
continuity to the circuit.