emergency Lighting Question

[mc3]

Hey guys.

 

I'm in desperate need for some help.

 

After a week of working fine, I plugged my 400w (and ballast) in to start a cycle and I got this almight crackling sound through my cords. I know the sound was electricity, and when I unplugged, the metal tines on both plug attachments were blackened.

 

Why? What? Everything was going so well. I checked the wall outlet with a normal lamp, and it seems to be fine. The extension cord I was using has been fried and doesnt work anymore. Everything else in the house is working fine.

 

I'm too scared I'm going to kill myself so I haven't plugged the 400w back in and my babies (4 days old) and on the window sill. I'm afraid if I dont get them back under soon they'll die. Any help would be really really great.

 

mc3

[Paladin]

Hey mate. You could always open the ballast to see what is fried inside. But ruling out the extension cord (it was a three pronged one, right, with the earth?) itself being faulty, I'd personally go buy a new ballast.

 

Your safety switch wasn't flipped?

[mc3]

Update:

 

I got a new extension cord, and I took the timer off, and it has been working fine for 2 hours now. I'm guessing maybe the timer was the prob? I'm still perplexed, though. If it happens again, I'll check out the ballast. The light and balast are 2 weeks old, so I'll be pissed if I have to get a new one.

 

I'm just glad I could get the girls under lights again.

 

I don't have a safety switch installed in my house, but I was thinking of getting one of those one you put on the powerpoint, from Bunnings.

 

Thanks for the response, and any more advice would be awesome.

 

Cheers

mc3

[wilderbud]

If she doesnt crackle without the timer then it sounds like the problem.

 

Make sure the bulbs in tight if it isnt the timer.

 

If theres a bad connection on a plug or socket itll leave burn marks from the electricity jumping so you can have a quick look for that (nb its normal to get some marking on the bulb connection - if theres a bad connection there itll burn the solder instead of just leaving a mark).

[ris]

Was the plug turned off? If the electricity is off when plugging an unplugging there shouldn't be a cracking noise. Id say the noise is the electricity jumping to the plug before it has made proper contact.

[brick]

I would also make sure your extension lead is a heavy duty lead. The leads that they make/sell these days may not be able to handle the continuous current draw from a 400 watt globe. I also had crackling (more like a poppping) when plugging in a ballast with the power still on.