melted starter?

[spamwize2]

I've just visited a commercial property where the flourescent light starter had melted, i checked the circuits, polarity insulation etc but couldnt find anything wrong, has anyone any ideas why this may have happened?

 

[Sintra]

Came accross this before on a fitting that was flickering on & off. Starter was melted so changed starter & lamp all fine and still is.

 

[dufjax]

Got called to a shop where this had happened it was tripping the MCB and they kept resetting it.
I thought they might have put a wrong starter in, but it was so melted I couldn't tell. Plus it was a real s*d to get our

Jim

 

[baldsparkies]

A conventional starter on flourescent fittings consist of a bi mettalic switch which heats up under startup bends and open circuits. When they stick the strip just keeps heating up and melts the plastic outer case. Hope this helps explain whats happened to the over heated starter.

 

[spamwize2]

thanks for everyones help, it's put my mind at ease, thinking i must have missed something when i was checking the circuit

 

[controlman]

The starter switches on and off your ballast (choke) inside the metal case. If you felt it it will be hot and on its way out.(taking too much current and overheating the contacts of the starter)