Abstract: The invention relates to a switching arrangement for an ignition device of a discharge lamp (1), comprised of a spark gap formed by three or more electrodes (11) and connected in series with the primary winding (8) of a superimposed transformer (3) and a surge capacitor (9). The invention proposes a cylindrically shaped configuration for the electrodes (11), with the cylinder axes (12) being arranged side by side and in parallel to each other, i.e. in such a manner that a multiple-stage spark gap in air is formed vertically to the cylinder axes (12). Furthermore, the invention relates to an ignition device for a high-pressure discharge lamp.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ballast for low-pressure discharge lamps, comprising a controllable inverter circuit for the generation of a high-frequency supply voltage for a discharge lamp (1), a lamp inductance (L1) connected to the inverter circuit, a lamp parallel capacitor (C1) which is serially connected to the lamp inductance (L1) and connected in parallel to the discharge lamp (1), and a preheating circuit supplying heating current to the electrodes (2, 3) of the discharge lamp (1). In order to minimize electrical losses and to enable universal use of said ballast for various types of discharge lamps the invention proposes that current is supplied to the preheating circuit via an auxiliary winding (7) arranged on the lamp inductance (L1) with said auxiliary winding (7) being connected with the preheating circuit via a controllable switch or a parallel resonant circuit (9).