Melted Fused Terminal Block In Hi Bay Fittings

[Jono Pashley]

Today i was on a job to relamp and investigate a fault on a set of hi bay lights. Having recified the fault i proceeded to relamp the rest of the units, a few came back on with a simple lamp change 6 however i found this occuring inside.

Unfortunately before i could check a fitting connected straight through to check the ballasts were ok the scissor lift we had on hire ran out of juice having been sent to us partially charged(only got about 3 hours work out the damn thing). Im now i two minds weather to order gear trays and fused terminal blocks or just replace the blocks and see! Anyone come across fittings doing similar. All have gone in the same place they have 10A fuses in the carriers, all have melted either on the screw or where the terminals plug together.

Note: this picture is of one of the better ones.....

 

[Jono Pashley]

Also...anyone know of a distributor for Metway Industrys? Need to sourcce http://www.metway.co.uk/connect-products/electromechanical-range/fused-terminal-blocks/series-900si-fused-terminal-block-assemblies/ or similar

 

[Sidewinder]

What are the fittings?

Current draw per fitting?

These "sort" of fused terminal blocks are available in many places.

However, TBH, I would do a root cause fix rather than a sticking plaster one, but, will the client pay?

 

[Jono Pashley]

Fittings are 400W Metal Halide Hi-Bays. No disernable manufacters data to be found on them. Fittings wired to 15A round pin sockets fixed to the steels of the roof. Was about to investigate deeper when the scissor packed in. As far as im aware there is money in the job to replace the faulty fittings, my only concern is how many others where lamps havent failed but are suffering from this melting fuse carrier issue. Fittings were left for an extended period(many months) with failed lamps i doubt this did them much good. Installed around 2001.

No issues with the circuits voltage/zs etc all well in spec fittings also on different circuits.

 

[NozSpark]

I've had a similar fault with some cat2 lay in lights that I installed several years ago... After only a few months they started to fail.... In the end the manufacturers rep got them sorted at their cost (obviously)

 

[Sidewinder]

Failed discharge lamps when left on can overheat, which could explain the fitting issues.

 

[Jono Pashley]

Certainly seems likely from what the time scales among other things. Putting in to do the whole lot internally. Apparently these fittings were left during the previous relamp as "they couldnt work out what was wrong".....

 

[kerching]

CPC have fused terminal blocks and i think they may be on free delivery at moment, but not positive

 

[Andy™]

Free delivery eh? well no point in me travelling there to get something...

 

[Jono Pashley]

CPC have fused terminal blocks and i think they may be on free delivery at moment, but not positive

Free Nextday delivery! Excellent Thanks!

 

[Marvo]

What you've shown in the picture isn't a plain fused terminal block, it's actually a plug and socket. I'm sure RS Components or Farnell would have a suitable replacement.

 

[Andy™]

i doubt that leaving it with a failed lamp would cause it either. too localized ro 1 specific point. looks more like a dodgy connection on the plug / socket part. maybe a dodgy batch of connector used by manufacturer?

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

I have had exactly the same problem on 400w Hi bays also. Some of the working ones  had previously repaired by others by removing the fuse and replacing with a connector . Luckily for me there was a Neweys on the same estate who had some fused connectors in stock. That was 2 years ago and i haven't been called back

 

[wozz]

How long are the lights on each day? 

12 years old, does much we fit last that long? 

 

[batty]

MH are designed for this although if the fittings have cheapo components they probably will fail.

 

[kerching]

Free delivery eh? well no point in me travelling there to get something...

Yeah but if you call in then you get the " on the day / on the off chance....not to be sniffed at  special offers"

just having called in on my way home this evening....