Halogen light switch

Halogen lamps are rightly popular because they give a good light and have an excellent efficiency. Unfortunately, they tend to be costly. Moreover, they often give up the ghost when they are switched on, because they then draw a very high current (same ten times normal, equivalent to roughly a hundred times their normal powerating). A simple passive circuit can remedy this, but only for DC operated lamps. If they are AC operated, a rectifier could be added, but that gives relative high losses at 6 V or 12 V.