View Full Version : HELP My HQI lights are burning up
vwluv10338
01/31/2007, 06:37 PM
Well I have two aquamedic HQI lights on my tank. A couple of months ago my 250w light went out. No big deal, my 150w was bright enough to use by its self for a while. Well I finally got a new bulb and went to install it but one of the sockets is melted and the tab on the bulb is half melted off. Well I ordered new sockets for it but last night I smelled a burning from my tank. Today I took apart my other light to check for a problem but couldnt see anything. Well my 150w kicked on today and I could smell the burning again. Well I was watching tv and I heard a buzz and a pop from the light. It was still on but I turned it off and I will take it apart again when it cools. Anyone have this problem? Why did my socket melt? I will update what is wrong with my other light if a bit.
thanks
Eric
vwluv10338
01/31/2007, 07:08 PM
Well I took apart the 150w and found nothing. There is no evidence of a short or melting at the sockets or wiring. The only thing I guess it could be is the bulb its self. Anyone have a HQI bulb smell like its burning?
E
EDIT: I know its about time for a change but just for the info these bulbs are about a year old.
vwluv10338
02/01/2007, 10:59 AM
No one?
GSMguy
02/01/2007, 11:02 AM
i have two aquamedic 250 pendants no melting smells
vwluv10338
02/01/2007, 07:14 PM
Thanks GSMguy. Well I have an update, MY TANK WAS ON FIRE. I left my halides off today untill I got home from work. I turned my 150w on to get a few hours of light even with the smell. Well I heard a few pops and I unplugged my light just as the cord caught on fire at my DC8. So I tried to blow out the fire after unplugging the entire tank. Well once the fire was out I realized my siphon hole has clogged again and my sump started to overflow. The main problem is I live above my dad's dentist office. I have allready replaced the entire op ceiling tiles due to a RO malfunction so my parents are not too keen about a fire now.
Anywho, so I took my balast apart and there is no sign of burning. Right now I have it plugged straight into a power strip and no burning. If my DC8 shorted that would explain this but how would that explain my 250w bulb socket melting? I am at my wits end with this. Last week my 150w was not comming on unless I pushed it to one side in my #2 slot on my DC8. So because of the loose connection I moved it to #6. Now that socket is completely melted. Anyone have any thoughts?
Eric
GSMguy
02/01/2007, 07:16 PM
saltwater and electricity dont mix
vwluv10338
02/01/2007, 07:22 PM
So you think over the last year I have gotten some water into the dc8 which eventually caused a short? Makes sence. Thinking about it, I moved mt 150w after I had a loose connection. Well I moved it to an unused outlet which could have had salt buildup in it from a year of moisture and drips. I put the light in that outlet and push the salt around untill it starts making a short which ultimately leads to fire.
GSMguy
02/01/2007, 07:28 PM
that would be a guess and could be a manufactures defect
2crazyreefers
02/01/2007, 07:46 PM
I know 2 people who had there bulb sockets melt on the 250 watt fixtures, 1 was only a week old. This friend said he saw arching before the bulb went out. Aquamedic sent new sockets in 3 days (good service) but I think the problem is if the bulb is not seated correctly in these fixtures it causes arching which burns the connections out. Just my 2 cents.
vwluv10338
02/01/2007, 08:18 PM
I bought the 250w used so I know nothing about its history. Hopefully when I get the new sockets everything will be fine. I was just concerned that I was having all these problems at once. However, now it looks like it was two separate problems.
Saddler
02/01/2007, 10:10 PM
I've been hearing about DE bulbs having problems w/ fires. Are SE bulbs safer?
GSMguy
02/01/2007, 10:14 PM
i have two of these fixtures 250 watt and i have not seen any arching bit i am also sure the bulbs are in properly
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