A method of starting a gas discharge lamp and an electronic ballast for starting and operating a gas discharge lamp

The invention relates to a method for starting a gas discharge lamp with a resonant circuit, characterized by the following steps: a) exciting the resonant circuit in such a way that an ignition voltage is generated for a first time period, the amount of which is only for a number n of half-wave exceeds the value of a predetermined critical voltage, and b) exciting the resonant circuit for a second period of time such that an ignition voltage is generated, the amount of which is clearly below the amount of the critical voltage, wherein the time period is longer than a predetermined critical period of time. The invention also relates to an operating device that carries out this method.