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Ralph Mowery

In article ,
says...

replying to Jeff Wisnia, Matt wrote:
Jeff, dumb question as I?m a beginner: these small desk lamps with the
red/black button starter don?t have a ballast....the only other part is a
smal in-line transformer, that?s it! So, the switch acts as a
?starter?? Why is no ballast needed in these lamps like ceiling mounted
fluorescent lights?

People often get loose with words.

To some the ballast and transformer are the same thing.

YOu may even hear of a ballast transformer.

A ballast when used here is to limit the current the lamp will use.
Dependin on the lamp, it could be a resistor or capacitor or inductor.
Most common are the inductor or transformer type.