In this paper, we analyzed and measured the characteristics of the ballasts for HID lamps according to the cable properties. The ignition voltage and the steady state voltage and current are depend on the feature and the length of the cables. So we measured characteristics at 25[m] and 100[m] distances used by a low frequency electronic ballast a high frequency electronic ballast and a magnetic ballast. By measured and analyzed result of characteristics for various kinds of ballast and cables, we concluded that the electronic ballast driving with the low frequency is better than my other ballasts, and that the capacitance between the cables is important.