A thyristor apparatus employing light-triggered thyristors comprises forward voltage detecting circuits (15) and a thyristor number detecting circuit (17). The forward voltage detecting circuits (15) detect forward voltages applied to light-triggered thyristors (13) to provide detected signals. The thyristor number detecting circuit (17) is responsive to the detected signals to cause light-triggered thyristors in a thyristor arm (U) to be turned on simultaneously in the case where the number of the light-triggered thyristors being supplied with forward voltages is one or more but not more than a predetermined number. Accordingly, if and when an overvoltage is applied to the thyristor arm (U), overvoltage suppressing elements (14) are prevented from being damaged even if partial commutation failure occurs in the light-triggered thyristors.
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