Abstract: An electronic starter for high intensity discharge devices, such as mercury vapor, high pressure sodium, and metal halide lamps. The present invention includes voltage controlled oscillator with a resonant frequency that is determined by the direct voltage applied and by a resonance circuit that includes the high intensity device as part of the resonance circuit. A higher frequency of oscillation is present upon start-up before the device is ionized of approximately 300 kilohertz. After that, the high intensity device shunts out one of the capacitance reactive elements lowering the circuit's Q and maintaining an operating frequency that oscillates between 20 and 100 kilohertz. The inductive element acts as a current limiting device and a protection circuit is provided to monitor the voltage across the lamp and to disable the oscillator if abnormal conditions are detected including removal of the lamp.