My IceCap Ballast Blew up

[Hitsnorth]

I woke up this morning to a loud sound coming from my living room. Of course I jumped out of bed ran into the living room and saw nothing. I walked back to my bedroom and I hear . .BOOM BOOM BOOM. I come out look and then I see this large flash with smoke and sparks! I cut the power to the tank completely not knowing exactly what was doing it. Turns out it was my IceCap ballast. Its not near water so I have no idea what would have caused it to malfunction like that.

If I was not home I dont know what would have happened those sparks blackened the bottom of the wall which was a foot away!

 

[jackson6745]

Oh crap! was it a MH ballast or a VHO ballast?

 

[Hitsnorth]

It was my VHO. My MH ballast was next to it but didnt get damaged.

It was the IceCap 660 so if anyone has one laying around Im looking to buy another

 

[Savager]

Holy cow. I am so glad you were at home when it happened. I hope you can get a replacement soon. Goodluck.

 

[gforce6]

Why don't you call IC? I am sure they will fix it or replace it.

 

[alrha]

It was the IceCap 660 so if anyone has one laying around Im looking to buy another

Is it under warranty?
i have a IC660 (that i use) but if you need to borrow it till you find one, i can rely on my MH lights in the meanwhile.

 

[prattreef]

I would call Icecap immediately. They take customer service and customer safety very seriously. If it is not too late shipping wise, I'm pretty sure they could get a new ballast out to you today. Randy

 

[DEEPWATER]

WOW ,srry to hear that
It good that you where ,G-d was on your side this morning
sry abou twhat happen ,but good call on your actions.

 

[jackson6745]

I would call Icecap immediately. They take customer service and customer safety very seriously. If it is not too late shipping wise, I'm pretty sure they could get a new ballast out to you today. Randy

Yep, just tell them what happened and I'm sure they'll send you a new one for free.

 

[Hitsnorth]

I will call IceCap when I get home.. I have my MH's so its no emergency im sure my corals arent going to complain too bad without the VHO's for a little while.

Im really just glad I was home when it happened and Im wondering why it didnt blow the circuit breaker. Not only is it connected to a surge suppresor that should have flipped. But its also on its on switch on my circuit breaker which didnt trip.

 

[cali_reef]

You should take some pictures before you remove the ballast, it will be interesting to see how it was mounted and if it had water dripping on it.

The explosion were probably capacitors blowing up, it should not cause a fire unless you have some flammable material close to it.

 

[Hitsnorth]

There was no water on it, it was outside the tank next to my MH ballast.

 

[jhale]

send it to icecap and ask them to figure out what went wrong.
mention the guys on manhattan reefs are curious
they should have a new one to you in a day, they are good like that.

these incidents are always very scary. I lined my hood with aluminum to prevent fires from melting vho endcaps, but if the ballast explodes what are you supposed to do?

 

[nanoreefer22]

Wow...thats kinda scary...ballast blowing up and all. At least you were home.

To answer Johns question If a ballasts explode I'm running in the other direction scared