Circuit for selective individual operation of multiple arc discharge lamps

A circuit for selectively and individually starting and operating at least two arc discharge lamps connected in parallel, comprising:

• a regulator for providing regulated current for operating a selected one of the at least two lamps;
• the regulator including means for connection to a power source and further including a pair of output terminals for connection to the respective lamps;
• means for starting the at least two lamps, respectively, including at least two pulse transformers and a pulse generator for supplying pulses to the respective pulse transformers;
• one each of said pulse transformers arranged for association with a corresponding one of said lamps;
• and
• means for selecting a one of said lamps to be started and operated;
• the selecting means arranged for low voltage operation and including means for enabling the regulator and the pulse generator and for steering the pulses from the pulse generator to a one of said pulse transformers associated with the one of said lamps selected for operation;
• the selecting means further including means for disabling the pulse generator and the regulator for effecting turn-off of a previously lighted lamp and for resetting the circuit in preparation for starting a second of said lamps when the selecting means is operated to select the second of said lamps for operation.