Snap Crackle Pop: Ballast

[Doglover_50]

Here it is, play by play. Can I still use the thing?

I did change bulbs 5 days ago, but it's a simple straight pin, can't imagine I did anything wrong there.

Stock PC lightining on my JBJ nano. Light is on a timer, and just as I was on hands and knees doing some cleaning, the timer turned off, about 3 seconds later I reached over to turn it back on, and it crackled and the lovely smell of burning electricity hit me. Lights were on but flickering, so I unplugged the darn thing.

Tried again this am., and the lights worked, no more crackling, otherwise it looked okay.

Ran it about 1 minute then unplugged. Is it salvageable, and does it present a fire danger?

[paljets]

I wouldn't trust it.. Once you let the magic blue smoke out of things like ballasts, well, you can never trust them.

It's not worth the risk.. I'd get another one..

--paul

[Doglover_50]

I hear you, though I did not have blue smoke--just the burn smell and crackling. I wonder if my extra extra ballast from my 65W PC would work? Guess I can give it a shot.

[here4g2]

Could be as simple as a loose connection.You will just have to take a look and evaluate the situation.