CFL Ballasts

Fluorescent and compact fluorescent (CFL) ballasts are used in compatible lighting fixtures to safeguard fluorescent and CFL light bulbs from destructive power fluctuations that can lower the quality of the bulbs' light output. They switch on the bulbs with a burst of high voltage and then regulate the current to the bulbs for as long as they are on. Non-dimmable ballasts are compatible with lighting controls that switch lights on and off but do not dim their light output. Dimmable ballasts are compatible with lighting controls that allow a fixture's light output to be dimmed.