Can a light ballast explode?

Overheated fluorescent lights can cause fires! Overheating of the ballast could result in the following: Explosion of the ballast due to the generation of gases inside.

What causes a ballast to burn out?

Causes of Ballast Failure Heat and moisture are enemies #1 and #2 to your ballast. Every ballast has an ambient operating temperature range and UL location rating. When it’s too hot or too cold, the ballast can burn or fail to start your lamps at all.

Why do fluorescent lights explode when dropped?

According to Pacific Lamp Supply Company, the most common reason that lightbulbs can explode is if the manufacturers don’t put enough insulation at the base of the bulb. This causes the base to melt, and the gas that is stored in the light bulb will leak out.

Why is my fluorescent light smoking?

This can happen at the end of its useful life. At that time, the arc contained in a fluorescent light sometimes elevates the temperature of the plastic near one end of the tube, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star. It can produce limited smoke and odor.

What happens if you smash a fluorescent tube?

Yes, but only if broken so it’s important that you handle flu tubes safely. Fluorescent tubes contain mercury, which can be dangerous if released so be careful not to break them. Mercury is toxic, and can cause serious damage to the brain, kidneys, lungs, nervous system and other vital organs.

How to install an electronic ballast on a light fixture?

Screw the electronic ballast into the fixture, in the same place where the magnetic one was Use wire nuts to connect the socket wires. Connect the power and neutral wires to the corresponding ballast wires Secure the wires with wire nuts.

What happens if you don’t have a ballast for fluorescent lights?

The process that occurs inside a fluorescent light involves molecules of mercury gas being heated by electricity and made more conductive. Without a ballast to control this, there would be too much current for the light to take, and it would burn out and possibly even catch fire. How does a fluorescent light ballast work?

What causes premature ballast failure?

Premature ballast failure is often caused by the surrounding environment. Heat and moisture are enemies #1 and #2 to your ballast. Every ballast has an ambient operating temperature range and UL location rating.

What happens if a ballast gets too hot?

Heat and moisture are enemies #1 and #2 to your ballast. Every ballast has an ambient operating temperature range and UL location rating. When it’s too hot or too cold, the ballast can burn or fail to start your lamps at all. Heat combined with prolonged condensation inside an electronic ballast can cause corrosion.