noun
ballast
A device that controls the electrical current supplied to a lamp.
The electrician replaces the faulty ballast inside the fluorescent light fixture.
Etymology
Dutch ballast named weight carried to steady a vessel. The electrical device borrows that stabilizing role, keeping the current supplied to a lamp within the range needed for operation.
More examples
- A damaged ballast can interfere with the lamp's operation.
- The replacement ballasts match the specified lamp type.
- The technician checked the ballast before reconnecting the fixture.
Forms
ballast · ballasts
Similar words
- current regulator
- Describes the controlling function without specifying lighting equipment.
- transformer
- Changes voltage and may be only one part of a lighting circuit.