Abstract: A ballast circuit for controlling the ignition characteristics of a preheat type fluorescent lamp of the type having a transformer with a primary, operating secondary, filament and auxiliary ignition windings, in which there is provided a rectifier having A.C. input terminals, one connected to an end of the operating winding and the other connected to an end of the auxiliary ignition winding by a resistor, and a pair of D.C. output terminals across which is connected a resistive ballast. A starting capacitor is connected to the junction of the resistor and the rectifier A.C. input terminal and applies the auxiliary starting voltage after a time delay. A second capacitor, connected in the lamp running circuit, is charged through a resistor and diode and makes an additional voltage available.