That sounds like the CFL failed as it was designed to fail. CFLs draw more current as they age. Eventually the power supply is overwhelmed by the current demand and fails. All the CFLs I've seen use a tiny (1/8 or 1/16 watt) resistor as a fuse. Before anything else gets overloaded enough to fail, the little resistor acts as a fuse and opens. But, being a resistor, it fails like a resistor often with some smell and brief puff of smoke. I suppose it might be possible for a flame as the covering burns, but that should be inside the base enclosure. I've never seen anything but a small puff of smoke if I am looking in that direction when it goes.
73, Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- ... a couple of those so called "5000 hour" Chinese CFL's actually burned up (yes, smoke, fire and flames) Jim - W0EB ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [email protected]
