ballast resistor
- noun
- /ˈbæl.əst rɪˈzɪs.tər/
- Specialized
:
resistor de balasto
- The ballast resistor prevents the headlights from flickering when the engine warms up.
Examples
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To ensure reliable ignition, a ballast resistor is often used in automotive circuits.
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Because the ballast resistor adjusts to temperature, it keeps the current consistent despite changes.
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The ballast resistor ensures stable current flow.
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Can you explain how a ballast resistor works?
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The ballast resistor stabilizes the current, preventing fluctuations that could damage sensitive components.
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In electric circuits, a ballast resistor helps maintain a steady current despite temperature changes.
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During testing, the ballast resistor effectively compensated for temperature variations, ensuring stable performance.
Synonyms
27
5.3
An electrical device that reduces the flow of electric current
7
4.1
A small electrical part that limits the flow of electric current in a circuit
3
8.2
A device that controls electric flow to lights, especially fluorescent tubes
A small electrical part that keeps current steady when temperature changes
An electronic part that changes how much it reduces electric current when it gets hot or cold
A part that changes the amount of electric current in a circuit
A device that helps fluorescent lights start and run
How Stabilizing
- US
7
4.1
- Specialized
1
4.9
- Specialized
3
8.2
- Specialized
- Specialized
7
4.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'ballast' (a device that regulates or stabilizes current) modifies 'resistor' (an element that controls electrical current), so the phrase denotes a resistor used to stabilize/compensate current. This noun–noun modification follows a regular, cross-linguistically common pattern and would be predictable to learners who know both constituent meanings.
Etymology
The name ballast resistor comes from the idea of a ship's ballast, a heavy weight that keeps the boat steady, and the electrical resistor, a part that slows the flow of electricity. Together they act like a small weight inside a circuit that helps keep the current 'steady' when heat or other changes try to make it rise or fall.