buzzmobile

This is really a cautionary tale that could have been much worse had I not read something about Metal Halide lamps that sientbob had posted. I was in the laundry area off of the kitchen this morning getting ready to perform my domestic duties in the form of a load of whites. It was shortly after 6 AM when I heard a muffled loud pop and the sound of breaking glass from down below. What was that!? I quickly went downstairs to check and the flower room was lit up. When I opened the door to the veg room it was dark.

The MH had exploded and the shards were lying everywhere! Everywhere inside of the lens cover that is! Turns out that post I had read many moons ago warned of the danger of catastrophic bulb failure. It warned that Metal Halide bulbs were much more prone to catastrophic failure and a tempered glass lens was a good precaution to take to deal with the possibility. At the time I read that post my HPS had a lens but not the MH. Conveniently they are the same sized housing so I switched the lens from the HPS to the MH that day.

Take care, friends. Things can and do go wrong sometimes.

Quantrill

Sheding Light on Arc Tube Rupture

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bobbooty

wow. im glad nothing else bad happened buzz.

im also glad i have glass covers on all three of my hoods (only one of them is a MH tho).

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milagro

Yeah, that sientbob really knew his stuff, especially concerning lights and electricity.

Sure wish he was still around today.

Glad to hear that all's well that ends well mr.mobile.



milagro

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buzzmobile

Me too! Does anyone have any suggestions or tips for safe removal of the ruptured tube? Other than be sure the electricty is turned off, wiseguys and gals?! The potato may not work in this instance, booty. Can I use pliers to grip across the innards of the shattered bulb to turn it and get it started back out?

On a happy note I discovered a new bulb that I forgot that I had as backup.

Poppa Seed

It might end up being a tedious surgery with needlenose and various small screwdrivers and ice picks. Seems like if you can get a grip on the metal at one or two points, you should be able to twist it out like you twisted it in.

I think that's what you're saying. I've done it with a regular bulb that shattered before. Hope it hasn't been in that socket too long and corroded.

Liftetimes ago, when I was an electrician, they called this 'non-passive failure'. Sounds like something a lawyer would come up with. Good luck, winged wonder.

regards
POPS

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buzzmobile

Thanks, Poppa. Once I hang the laundry I'm going to perform surgery.

milagro

Probably similar to your potato, but in the past for a standard sized light bulb that had broken in the socket, I've used wine corks pressed into the broken base to unwind them.

I would imagine the socket for you MH to be larger, but maybe some balsa, or other soft wood, or something in that vein might work?



milagro

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bluecheese

Buzz - glad to hear you're OK. I have a dual socket over the kitchen sink that STILL has the remains of a bulb in it. (Potato just wouldn't work.)

TY for posting this because just yesterday I was talking to hubby about taking the lenses out of each hood here. Each lamp runs both MH & HPS as I have digital ballasts. Now I won't remove them - thanks!

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afterburner

Hmmmmmmmm


I have an uncovered 250w MH over my mothers I might swap that baby out for a HPS

Thanks for the warning buzz; thats one heck of an event!