Inrush current limiting circuit (2, 3), comprising: a first connecting line (L1) that connects a positive terminal of a battery (B) and an electrical
consumer; a second connecting cable (L2) that connects a negative terminal of the battery (B) and the electrical
consumer; a switch (SW) which is provided in a first line of the first and second connection lines (L1,L2); a
voltage sensor (13); and a
current limiting circuit (10) provided in a second line of the first and second connecting lines (L1,L2); wherein the
current limiting circuit (10) comprises: a
current sensor (11) provided in the second line; and a switching element (Q) provided in the second line; wherein the
voltage sensor (13) detects a
voltage difference between the ends of the switching element (Q); an
operational amplifier (OP) which receives a
signal at an inverting input terminal in accordance with a detection value obtained by the
current sensor (11) and receives a current command value at a non-inverting input terminal; wherein the switching element (Q) provided in the second line receives an output
signal from the
operational amplifier (OP) at a control terminal and performs a switching operation in accordance with the output
signal; characterized by the fact that the
inrush current limiting circuit (2, 3) further comprises: a
capacitor (C) with a first
electrode connected to the first terminal (L1) and a second
electrode connected to the second terminal (L2); During a period from when the switch (SW) is turned on until the charging of the
capacitor (C) is completed, the current command value is set to a value, which is smaller than a value corresponding to the smallest of the rated currents of components included in the
inrush current limiting circuit (2, 3) and is set to a value that is smaller than a maximum current value in a safe operating range of the switching element (Q); the current command value is set to a value to put the switching element (Q) into a fully switched-on state when the charging of the
capacitor (C) is complete after the switch (SW) is switched on and a period of occurrence of an
inrush current has ended; a product of the value of a current flowing through the switching element (Q) and the voltage difference between the ends of the switching element (Q) is set to a constant value; and the inrush
current limiting circuit (2, 3) further comprises: an operator (14) which, based on a signal from the
voltage sensor (13) and a signal from the
current sensor (11), calculates the current command value to make the product of the value of the current flowing through the switching element (Q) and the voltage difference between the ends of the switching element (Q) constant, and outputs the calculated current command value to the non-inverting input terminal of the
operational amplifier (OP).