A power converter for an inductive load having one or more inductive windings, the power converter comprising: - a switching circuit comprising direct voltage rails (103a, 103b), a first direct voltage terminal for connecting the direct voltage rails to first direct voltage, a second direct voltage terminal for connecting the direct voltage rails to second direct voltage, a supply voltage terminal for connecting to the one or more inductive windings, first controllable switches (107a, 107b, 107c) between a first one of the direct voltage rails and the supply voltage terminal, and second controllable switches (108a, 108b, 108c) between a second one of the direct voltage rails and the supply voltage terminal, - a controller comprising means for controlling, in a first operating mode of the power converter, the switching circuit to produce one or more supply voltages on the supply voltage terminal, and - a contactor system comprising means for disconnecting, in a second operating mode of the power converter, a pole of the second direct voltage terminal from the first one of the direct voltage rails and for connecting the pole of the second direct voltage terminal to at least one of the inductive windings so that, in the second operating mode, a first pole of the supply voltage terminal is connected to the pole of the second direct voltage terminal, wherein the controller is configured to control, in the second operating mode, one or more of the first controllable switches (107b, 107c) to alternate between conductive and non-conductive states so as to operate the switching circuit and the at least one of the inductive windings as a voltage-decreasing direct voltage converter between the first and second direct voltage terminals, characterized in that: - the one or more of the first controllable switches are controllable switches connected to one or more poles of the supply voltage terminal other than the first pole of the supply voltage terminal, and - the controller is configured to keep, in the second operating mode, the one of the first controllable switches connected to the first pole of the supply voltage terminal in the non-conductive state. - a switching circuit comprising direct voltage rails (103a, 103b), a first direct voltage terminal for connecting the direct voltage rails to first direct voltage, a second direct voltage terminal for connecting the direct voltage rails to second direct voltage, a supply voltage terminal for connecting to the one or more inductive windings, first controllable switches (107a, 107b, 107c) between a first one of the direct voltage rails and the supply voltage terminal, and second controllable switches (108a, 108b, 108c) between a second one of the direct voltage rails and the supply voltage terminal, - a controller comprising means for controlling, in a first operating mode of the power converter, the switching circuit to produce one or more supply voltages on the supply voltage terminal, and - a contactor system comprising means for disconnecting, in a second operating mode of the power converter, a pole of the second direct voltage terminal from the first one of the direct voltage rails and for connecting the pole of the second direct voltage terminal to at least one of the inductive windings so that, in the second operating mode, a first pole of the supply voltage terminal is connected to the pole of the second direct voltage terminal, - the one or more of the first controllable switches are controllable switches connected to one or more poles of the supply voltage terminal other than the first pole of the supply voltage terminal, and - the controller is configured to keep, in the second operating mode, the one of the first controllable switches connected to the first pole of the supply voltage terminal in the non-conductive state.