What Does a Ballast Resistor Do?
by Sean Kotz
The process of starting a car involves more than simply turning the key to fire up your engine. Between the battery and the starter, a ballast resistor helps regulate the voltage.
Definition
WordNet Search defines a ballast resistor, most commonly found in an automobile ignition system, as a device "inserted into a circuit to compensate for changes, [such] as those arising from temperature fluctuations."
Function
A ballast resistor helps regulate voltage flowing in an electrical system to avoid overloads or battery drainage.
Use in Automobiles
As the starter motor begins to crank the engine, it causes a significant drain on the battery. The ballast resistor allows the ignition system to operate at a lower voltage until the engine starts. After ignition, the alternator begins to recharge the battery, restoring the regular voltage. The ballast resistor then functions to regulate the voltage going to the ignition system to avoid additional wear on the system.
Additional uses
Low-voltage lighting systems, such as florescent, LED and neon lights, frequently contain ballast resistors.
References
Writer Bio
Sean Kotz has been writing professionally since 1988 and is a regular columnist for the Roanoke Times. He has also written for the Blue Ridge Business Journal, The Roanoker, 50 Plus, and Prehistoric Times, among others. He holds a Master of Arts in literature from Virginia Tech.
