there is disclosed a portable hand held fluorescent task lamp comprising an elongated plastic housing having a clear lens on one end of the housing and a hand grip portion formed into the second end of the housing ; a line cord ; at least two compact fluorescent lamp bulbs removably disposed behind and visible through the clear lens , of any wattage from approximately four to thirty watts and of either a non - starting type or a self - starting type ; an electronic ballast circuit ; and an spst function switch disposed in series with each cfl bulb , wherein the cfl bulbs may be ignited and sustained in illumination in parallel , simultaneously or individually , as determined by the respective spst switches .