Small Problem... dropped my halide into my tank

[Sitarangi]

During a regular water change, I put my hand on my 150 watt Sunpod to start a siphon. The mounting leg snapped and dropped about half the fixture into the tank. It was plugged in, but the lights were off on a timer. I was able to grab it before it totally fell in. I immediately unplugged it and put it in the sun to dry. I removed the bulb and dried it off as well. I used an air duster to dry it out as best I can.

All the livestock looks fine and the polyps are open from the sun. Should I be afraid of getting electrocuted if I plug it in to test it? What precautions should I take?

 

[Tang Salad]

Should I be afraid of getting electrocuted if I plug it in to test it?

Yes!

The safest thing to do would be to completely disassemble the fixture and clean the salt off of everything. Is the ballast in the fixture or external?

 

[Sitarangi]

The ballast is internal.

 

[Tang Salad]

Ouch. That will make it more difficult to clean. I'd probably open it up and try to gauge how much water got inside. Just be careful, there's high voltage in there even when it's unplugged.

 

[Dino]

An even bigger problem will be that without complete disassembly and soaking in RO/DI you're going to face corrosion over time.

 

[Sitarangi]

I think im in the market for a new light fixture :sad1:

 

[noahm]

I think im in the market for a new light fixture :sad1:

You will probably be fine if you take it apart and dry/clean it up....unless you "need" a new fixture.

 

[jlawson382]

I'm not sure if it will do the trick or not (probably not) but you can pack a wet cellphone in rice to dry it out. Might, possibly, work for your light... or, it might leave a rice grain next to something that gets hot enough to catch fire and burn your house down. So, yeah: try that at your own risk.

http://lifehacker.com/269427/dry-out-your-soaked-gadgets-in-rice

 

[khennig]

I second the disassemble and soak in RO/DO suggestion. The chemical process of salt and electricity will corrode the fixture in no time at all. submerge the entire fixture in a bath of RO/DI water and change the water a few times. Your objective is to get the salt off. After that you can use compressed air (can or compressor) to blow the water from under the components. place in the sun to dry or hit it with a heat gun. (hairdryer)

Please explain how there can be voltage in an electronic ballast when powered off. If this was a tube TV or computer monitor that would be true. Maybe even a starter capacitor on a large motor, but a ballast?
What am I missing?

 

[aleonn]

Wow very lucky that the fixture was off when that happened. I hope you have GFCI protection if you don't already.

I would make sure the fixture is completely dry and test it out away from the tank.

 

[masterqaz]

Please explain how there can be voltage in an electronic ballast when powered off. If this was a tube TV or computer monitor that would be true. Maybe even a starter capacitor on a large motor, but a ballast?
What am I missing?

Been a while since i opened up a ballast but im fairly certain theres caps in their (pulse start). Dont think they'll have to much charge in them, you certainly wont kill yourself getting jolted by them though but it could burn a nice chunk skin off. (seen it happen with caps in disposable cameras for the flash units)

but to the point, best to assume the worst and be careful