ufcrusher
05-14-2005, 08:42 PM
So my next door neighbor lent me some better lights for my tank but told me that the endcaps (part the plugs into the light and provides the power) needed to be replaced. So I decided to plug it in to see how it worked...unfortunately, only 1 of the bulbs lit up. With all of my other fixtures its safe to touch the back of the endcap as its plastic and has no current, so I figured that was the case with this light too. I lightly touched it with my hand and felt like I was on fire with a pulsing through my arm. I smelled something bad and immediately pulled my hand back. So I look at my thumb and there is a hole burned into my skin through a bunch of layers. It was obviously cauterized by the electricity as their was no blood, but it hurts like hell!!!
I ended up feeling like I was going to pass out and needed to lay down, but my breathing was normal and I wasnt bleeding, so I didnt need to go to the hospital.
For the life of me I couldnt figure out what the hell was going on. I looked at the plastic and there isnt anything dangerous per se. Then I noticed how the endcaps were wired in......they had exposed wires that were twist attached to the ballast. On top of which, the wires had no lock nuts on them and were fully exposed...and one wire was loose! Apparently, the stripped area of the loose wire was sticking up right next to the non-working light. (Gee...I wonder why the one bulb wasnt working.....since the electric wire wasnt attached to it!) Since it was the thin part sticking up without the covered sleeve and there was a really bright light next to it, it was immpossible to see. Thus, I basically stuck a live wire into my thumb.
No wonder why this was THE absolute shock I have ever received.
I ended up feeling like I was going to pass out and needed to lay down, but my breathing was normal and I wasnt bleeding, so I didnt need to go to the hospital.
For the life of me I couldnt figure out what the hell was going on. I looked at the plastic and there isnt anything dangerous per se. Then I noticed how the endcaps were wired in......they had exposed wires that were twist attached to the ballast. On top of which, the wires had no lock nuts on them and were fully exposed...and one wire was loose! Apparently, the stripped area of the loose wire was sticking up right next to the non-working light. (Gee...I wonder why the one bulb wasnt working.....since the electric wire wasnt attached to it!) Since it was the thin part sticking up without the covered sleeve and there was a really bright light next to it, it was immpossible to see. Thus, I basically stuck a live wire into my thumb.
No wonder why this was THE absolute shock I have ever received.