Electrical circuit for gaseous discharge lamp

In a multi-color printing apparatus including a gaseous discharge lamp, a circuit for selectively controlling the power applied to said lamp, comprising, in combination, a transformer having a primary winding and a plurality of of output windings, said lamp having first and second electrodes, a first of said output windings having a terminal connected to one electrode of said lamp, a first capacitor connected in a circuit path from said second electrode to a second output winding;

• switch means, and a second capacitor connected in series to a third output winding and through said switch means to said second electrode, respective resistors connected across said capacitors, said second and third output windings having respective terminals connected in common to the other terminal of said first output winding, and said switch means being actuable to selectively connect said second capacitor in the operating circuit path of said lamp to control the power to said lamp, whereby said output windings connected to said capacitors provide current limiting characteristics for limiting the inrush charging current to the capacitors to thereby minimize electromechanical stresses therein.