A state signal is formed to indicate a transition to a bypass mode of operation. In forming the signal of each winding system of a corresponding converter transformer on a side of the converter transformer are determined, weighted with weighting factors and summed up. The summation current formed in this manner does not have any null zones in the normal operation of the converter. All weighting factors are different if the phase currents between the converter and the converter transformer are used to produce the summation current. In the case of a converter transformer which is connected to the converter via a delta-connected winding system and in which the winding currents are used, certain differences formed by the weighting factors are not to be the same. A DC Hall converter with an insertion hole is particularly well suited for weighting and combining the currents of each individual winding system.