Now my DC8 is BAD??!!

[johns]

Boy I tell you when it rains it pours.

I started one thread about the problem with my temp probe (still no response there, btw):

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=842941

And now I have a problem with my DC8. I noticed tonight that my MH lights weren't firing after I removed all the plugs from the DC8 and re-installed them (as part of my troubleshooting of my other problem). Then I notice that the outlet on the DC8 that the MH lights are plugged into seems to be 'crackling' when I handle the DC8. I was picking up the DC8 to investigate the MH not fiiring and I can here and see it starts to fire, then stops, starts again, then stops. All I have to do is pick up the DC8 and twist it lightly left or right and the MH goes from dead to fires, and vice versa.

I unplugged the MH plug from it's outlet on the DC8 and I see now that the prongs were even developing a black spot. It must have been getting pretty hot.

I seem to remember having the exact same problem with my DC8 before the recall, where one outlet (at that time it was the one that the kalk stirrer was plugged into). Curt asked me to call him and assured me there was NO WAY this could be happening, and I couldn't reproduce it at the time.

But now I sure as heck can reproduce it. What gives with these things? Is there a warranty on the DC8s we got during the recall?

 

[johns]

Well now that it's 2AM I could do some searches. So I found these threads and it looks like I was basically having the same problem.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=660342

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showt...708681&perpage=25&highlight=fire&pagenumber=1

I tried plugging the MH ballast powercord into the outlet one more time since I wrote that first post and it was definitely having trouble making a connection. When I touched it a minute or so later it was getting REALLY hot and then I could see that the plastic was getting very soft - like I could easliy pull the plastic away from the prongs. The metal prongs had started to blacken from before, but I think I caught mine earlier than those in these other threads.

I wanted to rule out the MH powercord, so I plugged it into a digital timer the way I used to have them, and it is running good - no heat and no short in the powercord because when I jiggle it around in the digital timer nothing happens.

Next I took my T5 light powercords and checked the upper 4 outlets in my DC8, I just plugged it into each one by one and I found that if you just nudge or jiggle it ever so slightly the lights flicker off - this was in 3 of the top 4 outlets. So it seems there is a loose connection in at least 3 of my outlets. I did not have time to check outlets 5 - 8 yet, but I will probably do that.

 

[clp]

It sounds like the plug and outlet are not making good connection. A poor connection can cause arcing and create a great deal of heat and may result be a fire hazard. Any plug/outlet combination that is not making a secure reliable connection should not be used.
This poor connection can occur if either the outlet or the plug are non compliant or defective. The outlets used in all are products are UL approved, and we have not seen any manufacturing defects in them so far. The first thread you mentioned above appears to have been caused by water (likely salt water).
The outlet in the second thread was sent in for failure analysis, and even after the damage it was still compliant with UL specs, and was making a secure reliable connection with test plugs. The connection problem in this case was caused by a noncompliant plug - the inner prong spacing was out of spec. UL states the inner spacing should be .41 to .42" - The plug had a spacing of greater than .45". The outlets used in this DC8 have their main electrical contacts on the inside of the plugs. The wide prong spacing results in the contacts not making a secure connection.
I'm not sure what the problem is your cause, but since you mention that the same plug has problems in multiple outlets of the DC8, I suspect the plug rather than the outlets. Either way please give me a call or send an email, and I'll swap out the DC8.

Curt

 

[johns]

Curt-

thanks for getting back to me. email sent.