This invention relates to a method for controlling a power
semiconductor switch (14A, 14B) of an
AC circuit, the
AC circuit being able to be turned on and / or off by the power
semiconductor switch. The method comprises the following steps: a) determining an instantaneous current value and an instantaneous
voltage value of the
AC circuit; b) determining whether the instantaneous current value exceeds a pre-given maximum value; if so, c1) generating a
control signal to turn off the circuit; c2) generating a
control signal to turn on the circuit within a time interval from the generation of the
control signal to turn off the circuit, wherein the time interval is less than or equal to the duration of a
voltage cycle; and c3) determining whether the instantaneous current value after the circuit is turned on exceeds a pre-given maximum value, the maximum value corresponding to or less than a previous maximum value. If so, steps c1), c2), and c3) are repeated. In step d), if the number of repetitions of steps c1), c2), and c3) exceeds a value n, a fault condition is identified and a control
signal to disconnect the circuit is persistently output, and the method is terminated. Otherwise, in step e), if it is determined in step b) or step c3) that the instantaneous current value does not exceed the corresponding maximum value, then the control
signal for turning on the circuit continues to be generated, and the method continues with step a).