An input terminal voltage discharge circuit (104, 204) for discharging a capacitance between input terminals of a power converter when a source of electrical energy is disconnected from the input, comprising: a control circuit (128, 228) coupled to the input terminals of the power converter, the control circuit coupled to detect whether the electrical energy source is coupled to the input terminals of the power converter; a bidirectional AC switch (130, 230) coupled to the control circuit and coupled to the input terminals of the power converter, the control circuit coupled to drive the bidirectional AC switch in a first operating mode when the electrical energy source is coupled to the input terminals of the power converter, the control circuit coupled to drive the bidirectional AC switch in a second operating mode when the electrical energy source is uncoupled from the input terminals of the power converter, wherein a capacitance coupled between the input terminals (120, 140, 220, 240) of the input of the power converter is discharged through the bidirectional AC switch with a time constant of less than one second when the electrical power source (160, 260) is uncoupled from the input terminals of the power converter; and wherein said control circuit (128, 228) comprises: two current sources (224, 229) configured such that one current source supplies current only when the AC voltage across the input terminals has one polarity and the other current source supplies current only when the AC voltage across the input terminals has the other polarity, a timer and control block coupled to the current sources (224,229) by connections that can be used to detect whether an electrical energy source that generates AC voltage is coupled to the input terminals, said timer and control circuit block being configured to sense that one of the current sources (224, 229) continually supplies current for a predefined extended period, wherein the input terminal voltage discharge circuit is an integrated circuit and the control circuit and the AC switch are included in the integrated circuit. a control circuit (128, 228) coupled to the input terminals of the power converter, the control circuit coupled to detect whether the electrical energy source is coupled to the input terminals of the power converter; a bidirectional AC switch (130, 230) coupled to the control circuit and coupled to the input terminals of the power converter, the control circuit coupled to drive the bidirectional AC switch in a first operating mode when the electrical energy source is coupled to the input terminals of the power converter, the control circuit coupled to drive the bidirectional AC switch in a second operating mode when the electrical energy source is uncoupled from the input terminals of the power converter, wherein a capacitance coupled between the input terminals (120, 140, 220, 240) of the input of the power converter is discharged through the bidirectional AC switch with a time constant of less than one second when the electrical power source (160, 260) is uncoupled from the input terminals of the power converter; and wherein said control circuit (128, 228) comprises: two current sources (224, 229) configured such that one current source supplies current only when the AC voltage across the input terminals has one polarity and the other current source supplies current only when the AC voltage across the input terminals has the other polarity, a timer and control block coupled to the current sources (224,229) by connections that can be used to detect whether an electrical energy source that generates AC voltage is coupled to the input terminals, said timer and control circuit block being configured to sense that one of the current sources (224, 229) continually supplies current for a predefined extended period, wherein the input terminal voltage discharge circuit is an integrated circuit and the control circuit and the AC switch are included in the integrated circuit.