A switch driving circuit electrically opens and closes a switch circuit including two N-channel type semiconductor switching elements series connected in a reverse direction, thereby electrically opening and closing a path between a DC power supply and an inverter circuit. The switch driving circuit has a reference potential point in common with the inverter circuit and supplies an opening/closing control signal to the switch circuit. The switch driving circuit includes a half bridge circuit including two semiconductor switching elements series connected between a driving power supply and the reference potential point. Two protection diodes are connected in parallel to the semiconductor switching elements respectively. At least one current blocking diode is configured to block current from flowing from the reference potential point through the diode to the switch circuit side when the DC power supply is connected to the inverter circuit in reverse polarity.