Explain this!
 

All the burnt area is towards the outside of the holder. The wiring is fine. Hmm...

http://www.islandreef.ca/post/fire.jpg

Oh, for those that don't recognize it, it's an Icecap waterproof end cap

Geezus. That has been happening A LOT lately. That's why I am scared to leave my VHO's on when I go to work.

Have you read this thread Brad?

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...cecap+and+fire

Many believe it's from the arcing that is caused when the endcaps are too far apart from each other which causes the connection to be loose.

As an electrician I have seen that numerous times. It is clearly a heating problem. I have to ask if the tube is in contact with the burnt area. If so it being VHO there is lots of heat. It looks like the material is not proper for the amount of heat. In which case the fault lies with Icecap. :eek:

Bob, the bulb is not in contact with the cap. And this particular bulb has been in use for almost a year with no problems. The other side is fine. The cap also has a distinct burnt smell, which I don't think would exist if it just melted from heat. I really have no idea though, so you could be right. I haven't read that thread about arcing yet, so maybe something there will help.

Start reading then...

4 separate incidences from the first page alone:

"The smoke alarm went off and when I looked, there was the end of the VHO ON FIRE!! with the plastic endcap plastic dripping flames "

"Crazy, I just had an end cap catch fire last week. I had just got home from work and it smelt like burnt plastic, so I started looking around. I couldn't find anything, so I kinda blew it off for 5 minutes. I went back to my room to start looking again and there was 2 foot high flame on my fish tank.
"

"This happened to one of my maintinence accounts as well. Nothing like getting a call before they called the Fire Dept. lol. Icecap 660 driving 4 110w VHO. Started with a 3 piece end caps, burned through 3/8" acrylic holder and then started a plastic eggcrate on fire and sent fine soot particles all over the 5000+ sq foot house. "

"I had the same type of thing happen last week. New workhorse7 and new icecap 2 piece endcaps. "

Just a dumb question to satisfy my curiosity. Is that burnt atea anywhere near where the pins of the tube connect to the base. :question: It sounds like there is arcing at that point. It also sounds like Icecap should soon be switching to porcelain endcaps. :rolleyes:

Sam ,I read it...pretty scary.

Bob, no, the damage was at the opposite end of the cap from the pins. The contact area looks brand new. No arcing lines, no salt deposition, nothing. The part of the cap that is directly over the pins is fine.

It sounds the that it is caused by the heat of the tube. I know a 110W VHO tube gets very warm. It appears that the endcap material is not rated for the heat generated. Icecap may have changed the material the endcap is made of after the thing was inspected for their UL listing. I would most certainly be going after Icecap for restitution. :eek:

Bob, here are some pics of the inside sleeve. The black gasket is the pin end. The damage started at the other side and worked it's way in.

http://www.islandreef.ca/post/fire1.jpg

http://www.islandreef.ca/post/fire2.jpg