Dropped my Power Compact in Sump!

[Fcamdog]

Now the thing won't work. I took out the bulb out, let it dry and tried plugging it in. No go, either bulb shorted or the wiring is shot. I don't have another bulb to test it so does anyone have any ideas? I won't pay the LFS prices here in Hawaii and don't have anything else I want to buy via mail order right now so I don't think I'll be getting another bulb until at least the New Year. Any electricians out there that can help?

[Rin]

I'm not an electrician, but...

If you didn't drop the ballast in there, as well, you are dealing with several possibilities: 1) the wiring is still wet, 2) Salt intrusion is shorting out the system, 3) corrosion that results from salt intrusion is causing an open circuit, 4) the bulb took a hit and no longer functions, and 5) the system shorted out and fried the ballast.

As long as the ballast is ok, you can pretty much deal with anything else.

Unplug the system and disassemble it. Ensure that everything is dry and free of corrosion and salt. Rinse any component that was exposed to salt (not the ballast) in potable or distilled water and allow it to dry THOUROUGHLY--we're talking a couple of days here. Inspect all wiring and replace any corroded wires. Make sure that the bulb is clean and dry and that the contacts are not corroded. Use electrolytic grease on the contacts where the bulb plugs in.

Also check the fuse on the ballast (if it has one).

Find someone you know who can use electrical multitester. Have them inspect your system once your ready to plug it back in. They can test the contacts to ensure that you are getting the proper voltage to the bulb. If after all that, your bulb still doesn't fire, then you'll probably have to get a new bulb.

Even if it just the bulb, I would disassemble the entire unit to get the salt out.

Good luck, be careful.