Yikes….Was happily working away this afternoon in the shop when I smelled plastic burning somewhere. Stepped outside..nope, not there. Back in the shop (garage) my eye caught something dripping from above. Molten plastic from a “protective” tube cover on one of the eight foot overhead lights was beginning to drip down. The light had begun to flicker a few minutes earlier and I thought it was just time to replace the tube.
I’m still not sure what the cause was. Maybe I knocked into it pulling a clamp down from the rafters where they are stored. (I do it that a lot actually and was always glad I had the plastic covers on).
The plastic cover was being burned at the very end of the tube if that has anything to do with it.
I do know one thing. I have never gotten up there and cleaned those tubes which I know is a smart thing to do occasionally. I will start immediately.
Just a heads up.
Brian
Replies
Brian, I suspect there is a problem that needs more than cleaning. You should give more information about what type of bulb / ends etc.
You can just replace the ends of those fixtures, but it may be time to just replace the fixture.
If it is the single prong on the end of the bulb, you may want to spin the bulb to see if it will make better contact. There is probably poor contact causing a slight arc, or at least high resistance causing the heat.
But by now, that end is probably toast.
Thanks Keith, I'll check the bulb when I get home (at work now). I didn't really take a good look at the fixture because all the damage appeared to be on the end of the bulb. Will get back to you.
Brian
That is scary! So glad you were there, Brian, and have a good sniffer to boot. Goodness!
Certainly woke me up! Starting to heat up down here. How u doing up there?
Brian, I just had a thought (scary, I know) -- rather than using those plastic covers, how about getting the fluorescent fixtures that have a "cage" over the bulbs compartment.
We've got an unusual hot spell coming in this week, supposed to get up to 84 on Friday. I'll be riding in breeches and a bathing suit top if it does! Horses are glad to finally shed their blankets and go au naturale for a few days. Nick has planted beans, might be a good time to get a few other things in the ground too.
I'm puttin' together the Unisaw this week. The Delta mobile base arrived late Monday, it's assembled (piece of cake!) but the legs on the saw's extension table were centered instead of offset, so I've got to fix them tonight, get it all level. Tomorrow, I'll get the new plug -- previous owner had a twist-lock, but my outlets are the more straightforward type.
Hope I don't have any trouble getting the fence installed, but I know there are plenty of people here than can help if I do!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
We've got an unusual hot spell coming in this week, supposed to get up to 84 on Friday.
I gotta move further north. It's supposed to be 94+ down here in Oregon. 'hate hot weather; I'll take the clouds and drizzle anytime. ;)
Yep, looks like OR is going to get more degrees by far. Are you closer to Portland or to Salem?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
About 25 miles west of Portland. At least it looks like we cool down in just a few days.
I took advantage of the heat wave today; I have a glue-up with Dap Plastic Resin glue in the shop now, which requires high shop temperatures to cure (>70). Shoudln't be a problem today.
Nice to know someone else who thinks the 70's are high temps!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Nice to know someone else who thinks the 70's are high temps!
LOL, you should hear my Oregon-born 10 year-old. 'hates the Sun - has complained ever since he could talk when it gets in his eyes. 'says his favorite thing to do is take his hat off and walk around in the drizzle. A true Northwesterner - drives his SoCal-raised mom nuts. ;)
He's really looking forward to Tuesday, when the temps. get back the mid-60's.
Just to keep this woodworking-related, here he is in the shop today, checking out the latest project-in-progress.
Yes, he's really 10. He's taller than his mom. ;)
Edited 5/19/2008 12:09 am by BarryO
Edited 5/19/2008 12:10 am by BarryO
Looks like he's pretty proud of his dad's work!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Great lookin' boy there..
I'd bet he thinks your are rich! Maybe wants to keep on your good side to get all them GOOD clamps (you can never have to many!) When you pass on!
Nothing like a child that smiles and has FUN FUN FUN! Reminds me of a old Beach Boys song...
Hi Jamie!, Supposed to be 101 today and at least that for the next couple days and then back into the 80'. Phew! Well for Stockton that's not all THAT hot. Come August we will hit 110+ easy. Now That's when I get cranky.
I went ahead and ordered the Akeda DT jig with all the fixin'. Can't wait to get it. Just seemed to fit my style of WW better. I will probably use it once or twice a month and don't think I will have to review much to use it if I have a big gap between uses. The guy that engineered the Leigh engineered the Akeda and I spoke to a guy in the Tech support area at Akeda and he was great. I have confidence if I have a problem or question it will be attended to ASAP.
Congrats on the new saw. Craigslist right? I'm really enjoying the PM2000. I didn't know what I was missing using the Craftsman contractors saw. Good saw but not a PM cabinet saw by any means.
A cage for the light fixture is a great idea. I store the clamps in the garage rafters and usually knock the light pulling one down. Don't remember HD having that but I'll check around.
Give the Horses a lump of sugar for me!
Brian
Edited 5/15/2008 1:53 pm ET by BriMcG
"Come August we will hit 110+ easy. Now That's when I get cranky." Yeah, that's when I got lost, moved up to the Northwest. It didn't get to 110+ that often in Davis, but over 100 alot in the summers -- that's when I had a boarding stable there, loading/unloading a few tons of hay every month, that kind of fun stuff. Somewhere between the age of 35 and the age of 40, my body said "No mas!!"
They should have those light fixtures with the metal "cagey" protectors at HD. If not, check Lowe's. Of course, if you hit it hard enough, it'll still break, LOL!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I keep thinking I would like it up there but a few years ago I bought some property in Maine where I have family. Nice piece on the water but COLD in the winter. I guess everywhere has something about it to complain about huh? I think I could take the cold better then Stockton heat tho. It's not carved in stone but I will probably retire there and eat lobster everyday!
Later, Brian
110° Ugh! But I could stand just a little of that mixed in. For a couple weeks now and next week too, it seems it just can't make it to the 70's. And it would be nice to have just one day once in a while when it didn't rain. I need to get some grass mowed.
T, your weather sounds remarkably like ours (Great Northwest). It's been awful out here until just the last week or so. Rain, rain, rain, rain. Took forever to get above 50 this year, then eaked above 60 finally. We're having this 3-day hot spell, got to the mid-80's and I nearly fainted when half-way through with my second horse at 2pm (dumb time). But it's dropping about 10 degrees tomorrow to a perfect 74. Gonna ride those two at 9am and 10am tomorrow! Too old for heat stroke.....
Hang in there, it'll get better!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
supposed to get up to 84 on Friday. I'll be riding in breeches and a bathing suit top if it does!
Being the Lady you are, I would hope so ;-)
My garden is tilled and with all of the rain we've had all I could plant is rice and water cress(good old Ohio clay "loam")Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
with all of the rain we've had all I could plant is rice and water cress..
I only buy Rice by two or three packages of one pound packages.. NONE available! My staple is pasta! What gives.. Rice farmers trying to be like the diamond and Oil cartels?
I think you hit the nail on the head. It all boils down to greed in the stock market and the attitude of how can I make a billion by sitting on my keester.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Hi Brian,
I think I'd replace the entire fixture or call an electrician.
Paul
Thanks Paul, Am replacing the whole deal. And I need to keep the lights clean of dust.
Brian
Brian,
You had a ballast fire starting up. Replace the light asap. Disconnect the electrical service to it until you do.
Steve
There are two secrets to keeping one's wife happy.
1. Let her think she's having her own way.
2. Let her have her own way. President Lyndon Baines Johnson
Hold up a sec, lets not jump to conclusions. He said the protective tube was melting not the plastic end of the fixture. (if I understood him right) so this may not have been the fixture. (at least not the balest) When the balest goes it usually is pretty spectacular and I am not sure that it would just melt the protective tube. So something else MAY have happened here.
Doug
Whatever is going on with that fixture it's not good. I'd just replace it.
Paul
OH I agree with that, but he also needs to figure out what happend so as to not repeat it again (assuming he has more of these fixtures and or tubes.
Doug
I don't think it was the balast, but that was my first thought, balast usually smell too don't they.
I'd spend the money and replace that fixture
That's true Doug. Maybe the OP should check the rest of his fixtures for any signs of problems.
Paul
Hi Folks, Thanks for the replies, I'm no expert but I really don't think it was the balast but even so I am going to replace the whole shebang.
I really think the plastic tube was somehow moved into contact with the light at one end. How I'm not sure. Either way it woke me up to the potential hazards above head in the shop. Brian
Edited 5/14/2008 11:14 pm ET by BriMcG
I have no idea.. However I can say it happens.. Where I worked we had thousands of Fluorescent tubes. The Maintenance guys inspected them all the time (They did their jobs well and NOT to be looked down upon). Fire inspections all the time. Fluorescent tube ballast do it all the time.. OK.. some times!
I would suggest.. BE SURE TO TURN OFF any lights when you leave the shop!
Thanks, Am certainly adding the lights to my check off list of things to keep an eye on.
Thanks again for your reply.
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