Load control device having an overcurrent protection circuit

A load control device for controlling power delivered from an alternating-current (AC) power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

• a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load for conducting a load current through the electrical load to control the power delivered to the electrical load;
• a control circuit configured to control the controllably conductive device to be non-conductive at the beginning of each half-cycle of the AC power source and to render the controllably conductive device conductive at a firing time during each half-cycle;
• and
• an overcurrent protection circuit coupled to the controllably conductive device and configured to render the controllably conductive device non-conductive in the event of an overcurrent condition in the controllably conductive device;
• wherein the control circuit is configured to generate an enable control signal for disabling the overcurrent protection circuit when the controllably conductive device is non-conductive and enabling the overcurrent protection circuit after the firing time when the controllably conductive device is rendered conductive during each half-cycle.