DC/AC CONVERTER FOR IGNITING AND FEEDING A GAS AND/OR VAPOUR DISCHARGE LAMP

13 PHN. 10.981 The invention relates to a DC/AC converter (8), having a half bridge circuit and which serves for igniting and feeding a gas and/or vapour discharge tube (1). According to the invention, a starting capacitor (94) of this converter is connected between a junction (A) between two branches - each comprising a semi-conductor circuit element (60 - 61, respectively) - of the half bridge circuit on the one hand and a centre tapping (E) of a voltage divider (90, 91) on the other hand. As a result, the converter (8) starts satisfactorily and hence the discharge tube (1) readily ignites, while moreover undesired starting pulses during the operation condition are avoided.