A fast
changeover from one power
system to another in the event of an irregularity in the power
source system substantially reduces operating costs by minimizing a
power loss in switches during conduction, dispenses with a cooling device for cooling a
thyristor switch, and implements the
thyristor switch in a compact and low-cost design. The power supply
system for a load includes one switching apparatus for connecting a load to one power
source system, and another switching apparatus for connecting the load to another power
source system. Each of the switching apparatus includes a pair of thyristors connected in anti-parallel and a mechanical switch connected in parallel with the
thyristor pair. The thyristor pairs and the mechanical switches are controlled so that the mechanical switches conduct a load current when the load is supplied with power from the one power source
system in a steady power supply state. The thyristor switches conduct the load current during a power source
changeover time within which the load is disconnected from one power source system and connected to the other power source system, and do not conduct the load current during the steady power supply state.