Abstract: There is provided a protection system for an inductive load of the type having a ferromagnetic core. The system is comprised of a current limiting resistance serially coupled to the load. A zero crossover detection device, having an input and an output, is adapted to couple an A.C. voltage source to the load when the A.C. voltage is at or near the zero crossover point in its cycle. A switch having an open and a closed state is connected in shunt across the current limiting resistance and is actuated by the output from the zero crossover device so as to maintain the switch in an open state during an initial portion of the A.C. voltage cycle.