barretter \bar"retter\, n. of. bareter to exchange. cf.
   barter.
   1. electronics a resistor inserted into a circuit to
      compensate for changes such as those arising from
      temperature fluctuations; a thermal cymoscope.

   syn: ballast resistor.
        webster 1913 suppl. + wordnet 1.5

   note: the original form consisted of an extremely fine
         platinum wire loop attached to terminals and inclosed
         in a small glass or silver bulb. it operates by
         increased resistance when subjected to the influence of
         an electric current. in a later variety, called the

   liquid barretter, wire is replace by a column of liquid in
      a very fine capillary tube. a recent version has a
      resistor composed of an iron wire in a glass bulb
      containing hydrogen, with the temperature variation of
      resistance such that the current passing through it
      remains constant over a wide range of applied voltages.
      webster 1913 suppl. + pjc
see also:
barter liquid barretter 

barretter
     n : a resistor inserted into a circuit to compensate for changes
         as those arising from temperature fluctuations syn: ballast
         resistor, ballast
see also:
ballast resistor ballast