Crest firing means

In a means for detecting a half-cycle voltage crest of an alternating voltage waveform of the type including at least one capacitive element having a discharge time constant which is substantially longer than a period of said alternating voltage waveform and means responsive to said alternating voltage waveform and to the discharge rate of said capacitive element for applying said alternating voltage waveform to said capacitive element at substantially said half-cycle voltage crest of said alternating voltage waveform whereby a signal is produced indicating said half-cycle voltage crest, the improvement comprising:

• means for protecting said means for applying said alternating voltage waveform to said capacitive element from current surges associated with changes in voltage amplitudes of said alternating voltage waveform, said means for protecting including, first means for shunting said current surges away from said means for applying, said first means for shunting being electrically coupled to said means for applying said alternating waveform to said capacitive element, and second means for shunting said current surges including a second capacitive element and being electrically coupled in parallel with said first means for shunting.