Ballast

Well I just don't understand why a HID light needs a ballast. I don't understand what a ballast does. Can someone please help me. Trying to decide if I really need one or not. I'm pretty sure that a ballast tranforms 110v into whatever watts the light is or something like that?????


Heres the ballast I'm thinking about buying.
High Tech Garden Supply

You have to have the ballast. the ballast is what "fires" the bulb.

Okay thanks, I was hoping I could just wire it up or something. Thanks.

no deal a ballast is a must, even cfl's have a ballast, its built right in to the base of the bulb