Abstract: A high voltage converter system including a high voltage power line at a first voltage level, a step-down device connected to a second voltage level lower than the first voltage level, and a high voltage switch module including a plurality of voltage limited controllable switch elements including components to limit the voltage across each the voltage limiting controllable switch element to a predetermined voltage when each the voltage limiting controllable switch element is in an open state and to a zero voltage when each the voltage limiting controllable switch element is in a closed state. The voltage limiting controllable switch elements are typically connected in series between the power line and the step-down device. The high voltage down-converter system also includes a control system to selectively set the open state and the closed state of each the voltage limiting controllable switch elements to control the current through the step-down device.