Load control device having multiple terminals and a clamp circuit connected therebetween

A load control device comprising:

• a switching circuit that controls a current flowing through an inductive load by being controlled to be turned on and off;
• a freewheeling diode that is connected to the load to form a circulation path for circulating the current;
• a first voltage measurement unit that measures an output voltage of the freewheeling diode;
• a control unit that detects disconnection of the circulation path based on the output voltage of the freewheeling diode measured by the first voltage measurement unit,
• a clamp circuit that clamps a voltage applied to the switching circuit from the load to a predetermined clamp voltage or less, wherein
• the clamp circuit is connected to an input side of the freewheeling diode,
• the clamp voltage is a voltage higher than the output voltage of the freewheeling diode measured by the first voltage measurement unit when the circulation pass is not disconnected,
• the switching circuit includes a first terminal to which a drive signal for controlling on and off of the switching circuit is input and a second terminal to which the load and the freewheeling diode are connected, and
• the clamp circuit is connected between the first terminal and the second terminal.