An image forming apparatus using the power control unit and a power controller

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power control device and an image forming apparatus employing the power control device capable of exactly detecting (determining) a malfunction of a relay and a semiconductor device (discharge transistor) and the content of the malfunction. SOLUTION: The power control device is equipped: with a relay S2 and a discharge transistor S3 connected in series to an electric power load; bias transistors S1 and D10 connected between the relay S2 and the discharge transistor S3 and supplying voltage to the discharge transistor S3; and a CPU 2 determining an occurrence of a malfunction in at least one of the relay S2 and the discharge transistor S3. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT