A current regulator circuit for shunting excess current from a current supply (14) utilizes two separate shunting paths (52, 68) depending on the amount of excess current on the supply line. The first shunting circuit is activated when the current exceeds some minimum level established by a zener diode (50). The second current shunting circuit is selectively activated by a switching circuit (60) which compares the current in the first shunting circuit to a reference voltage (58) that is proportional to the line current. This arrangement is advantageous in that it shunts excess current without generating significant levels of heat or adversely affecting current sensing devices.
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