A method for controlling a lamp circuit that includes: setting a first voltage threshold and a first time window within a control circuit corresponding to a characteristic of a first lamp type; providing a first signal through the lamp circuit to start a first time interval and create a first test voltage; comparing the first test voltage to the first voltage threshold; and operating a switch to couple an output of the lamp circuit to a source of electrical power if the first test voltage is greater than or equal to the first voltage threshold before the first time interval exceeds the first time window.