Balancing circuit for series connected dc-link capacitors and method for its operation

The circuit (10) has two electrical switching elements (24, 26) connected parallel to a set of intermediate circuit capacitors (12, 14). A balancing capacitor (30) is alternatively switchable parallel to the intermediate circuit capacitors by the electrical switching elements and connected in series with a current limiting resistor (32). Another set of intermediate circuit capacitors is connected in parallel to the former set of intermediate circuit capacitors and in series with the former set of intermediate circuit capacitors over a compensation resistor. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for operating a balancing circuit (2) an indirect converter for use in driving applications.