**Precaution Everybody Should Take with Lighting**

[aznt1217]

Hello Everybody,

This morning I had a disaster on my hands. I went to turn on my Refugium light which I've had for a year but have kind of fallen back on maintaining it-- because life comes at you fast... anyway.

I went to turn it on and it shorted out my whole tank. I went back to the breaker box and reset everything. For some stupid reason I felt like it would be fine. I turned it on again and the piece of crap started smoking and a fire spark came out :irked:.

I suspect the salt corroded through the wires. So moral of the story: Please make sure you wipe off your salt creep on stuff like a refugium light or mainlights if you are running open tops.

 

[Staaan]

Same stuff happened to me and ended up killing two clown fish... except it was my heater. I'm sure you remember..haha.

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[aznt1217]

Yea except I don't think yours caught fire. f* man I'm pissed and scared lol

 

[Staaan]

Haha well let me tell you... it was definitely smoking like a chimney... Lmao

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[richardhmc]

I guess I should clean the salt built up inside my fixture lol

 

[marrone]

I've had this happen with VHO bulbs on my light setup, even with water proof end caps. All of a sudden one day I had fire and smoke coming out of them. It seem that salt/water got into them some how and over time it built up.

So yes, it's very important to wipe things down and clean up around plugs and outlets. Unfortunately this is something that most people don't do until something happens, like a fire or smoking.

 

[aznt1217]

Yea I hear you hence the thread. We have to get the word out there. I think this is especially important for those running refugium lights because those are exposed all the time.... and many of us use those home depot fixtures.

 

[marrone]

Things like this are very important, and unfortunately, it takes something like to this to happen to make people check their systems. Too many retro type setup and home depot fixtures being used around water, not to mention over stock outlets and strip plugs being using.

Good thing nothing happen and you were at home at the time.

 

[seldin]

Same thing happened here. I smelled smoke but thought it was a heater. I ended up shutting off different electrical devices to figure out what it was. Kept smelling smoke but could not figure it out.

After awhile, I gave up for 30 minutes and of course it got worse and I knew what was smoking. It was my sump light.

 

[nminunni]

Ted,

Glad to see you are alright.

 

[Keith P]

Wow. Glad you didn't get a jolt!

Would a ground probe have saved Staaan's clown??

 

[aznt1217]

Nah Staaan's heater exploded. That was a done deal.

 

[richardhmc]

What do you guys use to clean up the salt built up inside the lights? I have a MH/ power compact combination and there are glass screens used to cover them. Any chemical to get the glass cleaned? I think I might have to use a blade

 

[fcamargo6thave]

dam i am glad you didnt have a fire this is defintely something that is scary and should not be neglected

 

[Keith P]

What do you guys use to clean up the salt built up inside the lights? I have a MH/ power compact combination and there are glass screens used to cover them. Any chemical to get the glass cleaned? I think I might have to use a blade

I make sure the power is off and it's cooled down. Then I use a lint free towel and RO water.

Does anyone have any better suggestions?

 

[marrone]

I make sure the power is off and it's cooled down. Then I use a lint free towel and RO water.

Does anyone have any better suggestions?

That would probably do it, though you may need a razor blade or scraper if it's really caked on.