[en] The power switches for the pulse generators of the beam dumping system of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) have to commute 35 kV/30 kA with very high reliability. Prototype hollow-electrode switches have been designed, constructed and tested. The LHC application requires less than 10⁵ pulses per year and the intention is to use sealed switches, possibly without gas reservoir. With a new type of trigger based on a pulsed electron beam emitted from a ferroelectric disk, the switch was triggered between 150 V and 35 kV. The trigger system has operated for several 10⁵ shots with high reliability, switching pulse energies of several kilojoules. The various test results are reported and future improvements are suggested. (author) 4 refs.; 3 figs.; 1 tab