Abstract: A step-up DC converter suitable for construction as an integrated circuit chip provides a separate rectangular wave oscillator using a silicon transistor and a power amplifier driven thereby which supplies current to the primary winding of a two-winding step-up transformer matched to the constant duty cycle of the oscillator thereby simplifying construction of the transformer and permitting the oscillator and power amplifier voltage step-up transformer functions to be individually optimized for overall high efficiency operation. A hysteresis switching voltage comparator senses the rectified value of the high voltage output from the transformer relative to a stable reference voltage and switches both the oscillator and the amplifier to their standby current condition when a predetermined high output voltage level is obtained and switches both oscillator and amplifier into conduction when the output voltage falls to a predetermined level.