Crowbar protection circuit with discharge rate control

A crowbar circuit includes a first inductor coupled to a positive terminal of a power supply at a first terminal, and at a second terminal coupled in series with a main thyristor having a main gate drive for limiting a discharge current through main thyristor; a resistor coupled to the main thyristor at a first terminal and to the negative terminal at a second terminal; an auxiliary thyristor having an auxiliary gate drive coupled in series with a first capacitor at a first terminal and an auxiliary inductor at a second terminal, the auxiliary inductor coupled between the first terminal of the resistor and the first capacitor; a first diode couple between the first terminal of the resistor and the first terminal of the auxiliary thyristor; and a second diode coupled between the positive terminal and the negative terminal.