Inrush current limiting circuit

An inrush current limiting circuit, comprising;

• a first connecting line connecting a positive terminal of a battery and an electrical load to each other;
• a second connecting line connecting a negative terminal of the battery and the electrical load to each other;
• a capacitor having one electrode connected to the first connecting line, and another electrode connected to the second connecting line;
• a switch provided on a first line out of the first and the second connecting lines;
• and
• a current limiting circuit provided on a second line out of the first and second connecting lines,
• wherein the current limiting circuit includes:
• a current sensor provided on the second line;
• an operational amplifier receiving, at an inverting input terminal, a signal in accordance with a detection value obtained by the current sensor, and receiving a current command value at a non-inverting input terminal;
• and a switching element provided on the second line, receiving an output signal from the operational amplifier at a control terminal, and performing a switching operation in accordance with the output signal, and
• in a period from time when the switch is turned on until charging of the capacitor is completed, the current command value is set to a value smaller than a value corresponding to a smallest one of rated currents of components included in the circuit, and set to a value smaller than a maximum current value in a safe operating area of the switching element.