Problem w/125w CFL! Please help!!

Hey, So I got my setup all nicely figured out and then when it came to powering up my large self-ballasted 6500k 125w cfl bulbs(E40/E39) something strange happened! First few second went by without any noticable problems, then all of a sudden a 'pop' occurred(never sounds good) and the base of the cfl started smoking and giving off that burning plastic smell. it first happened with one and then the other. weird thing is that the ballast was producing some kind of 'fluid' or liquid (which was a pain to get the smell off of my hands). ALSO, it would be good to note that the bulbs still 'work' so it isn't like they died out but of course don't want it running with all that smoke, it did not look good or smell good!

I have done plenty of research online and came up with the conclusion that it was the capacitor in the ballast that went out due to over-heating, but not positive. Could someone please shed some light on what happened? And is there something I could do to fix the smoking and burning, these bulbs were expensive!? Feel free to ask any question which would help out! Thanks in advance!

I use similar bulbs. The same thing has happened to me, but usually after a few thousand hours of use, and the 'pop' indicated the end of the life of the bulb.

Is it under warranty? Send it back!

Unfortunately, I am on the road now, but will look into it when back. any idea why it would have happened the first few seconds? never used before, right out the box. Did yours also create smoke and burning liquid? Thanks for input Sunny!

Anyone else?

I've had several do this. I figured it's some excess plastic burning from manufacturing process because the bulbs work fine afterwards.

Would that explain why the bulb still works even though there is smoke and odor? What makes me worried the most is the liquid that drips out of the ballast. I read something about allowing airflow to allow heat to escape?? Would be awesome if I could still use them if indeed it is only temporary!

Over 100 views and 2 replies...anyone else experience this with their cfl bulbs??

Maybe there were a couple of bugs camping out and you got burnt bug guts on your hands.

definately man, definately.

anyone please??

bump bump