melev

Well, we had a good run but we have to break up. You were great for many years... but lately your sputtering and somewhat caustic odor grew worrisome and I don't have room for any of that drama in my life. I'm moving on. With your twin sister. She makes me happier.

From time to time, I've heard of ballasts catching fire and homes being burned in the process. I'd surmise the majority tend to be VHO ballasts, but that's conjecture on my part. There are many places in our systems where a fire could start, from bad wiring to lack of drip loops to loose connections and the occasional splashes.

A few days ago I noticed my VHOs were flickering during the first hour or two of the day. It was a little bit like lightning mode, but it also was very new to me. I've been running the Icecap 660 ballast for a long time, probably since 2006. Today, it was a little more concerning. I thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye, but everything seemed to be in order. I did the smell test, and there was an acrid (electronic) odor coming from somewhere in the fishroom. I checked the American DJs, the LED (refugium) power supply, the UPS, and all around the Apex but didn't find the source. 10 minutes later, the VHOs blinked hard, and I grabbed a ladder to check the Icecap ballast. It was very hot to the touch.

I turned it off, and gently unplugged it from the electrical harness. I had another one, new in the box, waiting as backup for many years, so it was installed. Not only has the problem resolved itself, the bulbs appear to be bluer than before, and these bulbs are a year old. If you have a ballast acting up, don't delay - check to make sure it is working properly to avoid a costly accident.