[Lowfer] Government Mandated Noise ???

[Ed Phillips]

    If you'll do a Google advanced search on "compact fluorescent lamps" 
and "electronic ballasts" you should find several links with circuits of 
the ballasts.  I've looked at some of the circuits and suspect that they 
really need to be controlled from a low impedance source and one at full 
voltage or else the "starter circuit" may not work right and the switch 
transistors can conduct heavy currents without starting the lamp.  
That's probably why dimmers and CdSe light control devices result in 
short life.  Annything with a relay should be fine.

Ed