End cap fried. :( help?

[Dert42]

i got some sweet frags at the swap today, set them up in my tank and left for the day.
came home this evening and 1 set of my lights were off. I was going to change the bulbs on that set sometime this week so i figured it burned out.
I pulled out the bulbs and one of the endcaps it melted. it's blacked and melted a bit.
I got it from Hellolights.com.
any idea why it fried? there is a warrenty on the ballast, but i don't know if that covers the endcaps at all.

will my corals be ok for a week or so without full light?

 

[JxMetal]

your corals should be ok for a week

 

[Reggae Fish]

Why a week? If it's not covered, just order one from PA. It will be here tuesday with their standard shipping.

 

[Im Lon 2]

E-mail www.thereefstop.com.. He can get them quickly too I'm sure.

 

[Dert42]

if it's not covered i'm just going to build a new hood and get some MH going...
i wasn't planning on doing that until march. but no point in paying for more lights i'm going to replace soon anyway...

*grumble

i'm glad the house didn't burn down.

 

[pewter_jean]

Glad to see no major damage and no one was hurt. If you need a light for the meantime, I do have a 48inch corallife pc just sitting around. It has fairly new bulbs. I can let you use that until you get what you need. Just meet me up at Gateway today. I can bring that.

 

[Reggae Fish]

Well if you're going to swap up lights, I agree with lonnie.
reefstop.com is the main place I use.

 

[Dert42]

thanks jean!

i called hellolights today, explained what happened.
the guy instantly knew what was wrong, moisture had gotten in the endcap. he seemed pretty sure. makes sense to me. replacement part was $9. should be here later this week.
so my dad gets to do a little electric work...
i think i'm going to wait until april to look at upgrading to a new tank/lights.

 

[pewter_jean]

Glad it worked out for you,

 

[geoxman]

If you are in a pinch I have some VHO and T5 end caps, waterproof, that you can use. JLMK

 

[Schplitter]

When bulbs are at the end of the lifespan they can send back surges to the ballast. The wakest spot in the connection between the lamp and ballast will burn. (The end caps)...