Exploding (H.I.D.) bulbs (dangerous gardening practices)

I.M. Boggled

Certified Bloomin' Idiot

Veteran

• Sep 3, 2004

• #1

Any live and learn type experiences out there?

Misting plants can be a good thing, while misting hot bulbs can be a very bad thing.

Story time...

 

four20_oem

Member

• Sep 3, 2004

• #2

no not a bulb..

no not a bulb..

but my ballast gave me a nice fireworks display.. I got lucky and was around the box when one of my 400w hps ballasts went to shit. It was a crazy couple seconds as I ran over to throw the switch.. Dont know what the hell hapend guess it was just old.. now I have my ballast in a metal box so if 1 decides not to work for me anymore atleast my house wont ketch on fire...

live and learn..

 

HOT CARGO

The Best Is Yet To Come

Veteran

• Sep 3, 2004

• #3

man this is serious shit. i never heard of ballast doing anything. i do have one 1000w that smells like burning plastic when its on. this was making me so nuts. till i realize that they smell like that when on. i cant find a name of this system but the whole thing is galvanize metal box. not painted.
i had it for over 4 -5 years and its still going strong. but i like my hydrofarm lamp better.

peace

 

G

Guest

• Sep 3, 2004

• #4

hands that are oilly should not touch the lamp directly. Or at all. The oil left on the lamp could create a hot spot and end up shattering just like when you wet a hot bulb.

Blatant

 

BigToke

Bio-Bucket Specialist *********

Veteran

• Sep 7, 2004

• #5

four20_oem, Thanks for sharing what happened to you, I have 8 ballasts and none of them are in a metal box, or a box of any kind, and they are in a place were a fire could happen, so have me thanking about buying some metal box’s to better secure the grow room. Btw any idea’s were to buy some good metal box’s?

Blatant, Thanks for sharing your thoughts about touching the bulbs, I had not thought about it but I bought two new bulbs and I did touch them quite a bit, and did not cline my hands, do you have any idea about what I could use to cline my bulb’s with?

 

I.M. Boggled

Certified Bloomin' Idiot

Veteran

• Sep 7, 2004

• #6

91% rubbing alcohol...

91% rubbing alcohol...

and an old tee-shirt to wipe down the bulb with has always worked well for me.

 

BigToke

Bio-Bucket Specialist *********

Veteran

• Sep 7, 2004

• #7

Thanks Boggled, I’ll give it a try.

 

HOT CARGO

The Best Is Yet To Come

Veteran

• Sep 7, 2004

• #8

i know someone that had his bulb pop.
he said that it start small fires on his plastic tarp.it happen when he entered the room. very scary
can bugs make a bulb pop? i think some just may.

stay safe all

peace

 

Green Lantern

nah

• Sep 8, 2004

• #9

During my very first grow I awoke one morning with a horrible burning plastic type smell and thick smoke in my entire house. I ran to my cab and smoke was billowing like a smoke stack out of the vent holes.....6th week of flower and i have smoke pouring out of all my windows....was a kit type ballast the melted two days after i bought it.....man i was paranoid that day...

 

chuckyoufarley

Well-known member

Veteran

• Sep 8, 2004

• #10

metal boxes

metal boxes

hi big toke go to a hobby shop and ask for 1 there or radio shack
ask for a project box

 

H

HerbWeedman

Member

• Sep 8, 2004

• #11

I place my ballasts on bricks as they don't transfer heat like metal.

 

BigToke

Bio-Bucket Specialist *********

Veteran

• Sep 8, 2004

• #12

Chuckyoufarley, Thanks for the idea’s, I believe I’ll have a look around and see what I can find.

HerbWeedman, Thanks dude, the brick thing is a good idea.

 

00420

full time daddy

Veteran

• Oct 1, 2004

• #13

i hope that it dont happen to me either.....lol

 

NewBeginnings

Member

• Oct 1, 2004

• #14

I had no idea HIDs where that dangerous I think mine should be save though as the ballast is in a good metal box and i always clean my bulb if been touched.

 

Joemutt1978

Member

• Oct 1, 2004

• #15

Haven't tried this but I saw someone somewhere that had tile under his ballasts, go get you some 1'x1' ceramic tiles, the kind you would make a bathroom floor with. This guy had drilled holes in the tile and mounted the ballast right to it, then mounted the til on the wall.