magnet killed my lights...

[tdam]

i put my cleaning magnet on top of my T5 light fixture, and the lights immediately went out. Now it's not working. Not sure if i blew the whole fixture, or just the bulbs.

Anyone know what happened?

 

[nsconductor]

Magnetic or electronic ballasts?

 

[tdam]

No idea. Its just a semi cheap fixture for my freshwater tank. Two bulbs, and the ballast is inside the fixture.

 

[rdnelson]

Odd. If it is a magnetic ballast it should still work once the magnet is removed unless somehow it magnetized the core but I find that hard to believe. With electronic I can't figure how a constant magnetic field would do harm. But than electronics is not my specialty. LOl

 

[tdam]

Whew. I unplugged it for a few hours and just tried it. It is working again!

 

[nsconductor]

If the magnet is strong enough and left for long enough it is possible to hose the transformer or torrid.

 

[tdam]

My electrician friend said by unplugging it, I may have "reset" the overload thing or something to get it to work again.

 

[rdnelson]

tdam;820649 wrote: My electrician friend said by unplugging it, I may have "reset" the overload thing or something to get it to work again.

I would be surprised if it has an internal overload in it but he could be correct.