Abstract: Process for the recognition of the rectifier effect appearing in a gas discharge lamp (G1, G2) and an electronic ballast, for the operation of gas discharge lamps (G1, G2), with which such a process finds employment. The electronic ballast includes a monitoring or control circuit (IC2) which monitors an operating parameter of a load circuit (E) of the electronic ballast, whereby this operating parameter corresponds to the lamp voltage or is dependent thereon. The monitoring circuit (IC2) integrates this monitored operating parameter over a full period and determines upon the presence of a rectifier effect if the integration result deviates from a predetermined integration desired value. Further, for the recognition of the rectifier effect, the duration of the positive and negative half-waves of the monitored parameter can be compared.

Abstract: Gas discharge lamps are for regulated in a manner that is not affected by parasitic capacitances, such as line capacitances, by measuring current which passes through the lamp, calculating an active component of the measured current based on its phase in relation to a reference or by a comparison of the relative phases of the measured current and a voltage applied to the lamp, and regulating the lamp operation based on the active component.