What exactly is a ballast? I'm looking to order the Strafe headlights. I hit a deer at about 35 mph a couple weeks ago. Busted the headlight assembly. Which part is the ballast? I'd like to know if I'm going to have to order new ones or if mine are still in working order. The actual lights in my headlight still work.

03 G35 Coupe

 

This is the ballast



The ballast is used to start the lamp and to allow the electricity to continue flowing through the bulb to keep the light on. The ballast’s function is to control the electrical current running through the glass bulb so that there is just enough current flowing through so that the light ignites and is maintained, but not so much that the bulb is destroyed. Having said that, it is clear that you must use a ballast when you want to run your HID lights in order to control the electrical current; otherwise, they will not work properly.

If both your lights work then you don't need the ballast.

 

Therefore if all my lights work my ballasts are good? Thanks!

 

^Yep...if your headlights come one the ballast are fine.