Burning smell

PENNYWISE · 03/19/2006, 06:15 PM

Can't find the source. Nothing feels warm to the touch (other than ballast which has always felt warm of course). It's not an overwelming smell. It's kinda subtle. I've tried to isolate it, but haven't had any luck. Anyone got any suggestions? It's localized to under my tank. I have under there pc ballast, mh ballast, timers, power strip/wavemaker timer (natural wave)...etc?

whiteshark · 03/19/2006, 06:17 PM

Sometimes dust accumulating on the ballast can give off that smell.

PENNYWISE · 03/19/2006, 06:33 PM

Yeah, I cleaned them off. The smell persists. Thanks though.

supertech3 · 03/19/2006, 06:41 PM

Did you you try feeling the electrical cords near the plugs? See if any of them are getting warm.

PENNYWISE · 03/19/2006, 08:26 PM

Yup. Tried that too. They're not at all even warm?

Wiskey · 03/20/2006, 12:12 AM

Have you checked your endcaps?, especially if you use vho. Pull any rio pumps you might have out and smell them (I had one that gave a subtle burning smell for a few days and then compleatly fried)

HTH,
Whiskey

dl1030 · 03/20/2006, 09:57 AM

Or did you mount anything lately with the two part epoxy? it gives off a odd odor that made me look for a burnt plug.

elephen · 03/20/2006, 10:00 AM

Has anything been exposed to any moisture, saltwater is a great electrical condutor, I had a nice electrical fire when one cord got a little damp.

elephen · 03/20/2006, 10:02 AM

Oh yeah and I smelt a faint burning scent for about a month before the fire started.

03/19/2006, 06:15 PM	#1
PENNYWISE Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Derry, Maine Posts: 164	Burning smell Can't find the source. Nothing feels warm to the touch (other than ballast which has always felt warm of course). It's not an overwelming smell. It's kinda subtle. I've tried to isolate it, but haven't had any luck. Anyone got any suggestions? It's localized to under my tank. I have under there pc ballast, mh ballast, timers, power strip/wavemaker timer (natural wave)...etc?

03/19/2006, 06:17 PM	#2
whiteshark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 3,024	Sometimes dust accumulating on the ballast can give off that smell. __________________ Deep Blue 60 gallon cube: Setup in progress.

03/20/2006, 12:12 AM	#6
Wiskey Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Fallbrook, CA Posts: 3,049	Have you checked your endcaps?, especially if you use vho. Pull any rio pumps you might have out and smell them (I had one that gave a subtle burning smell for a few days and then compleatly fried) HTH, Whiskey __________________ This video shows 15 months of coral growth in my tank in a 30 second timelapse: https://youtu.be/bF6C57aTDEo

03/20/2006, 09:57 AM	#7
dl1030 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Iowa City, Iowa Posts: 276	Or did you mount anything lately with the two part epoxy? it gives off a odd odor that made me look for a burnt plug. __________________ Two fish are in a tank. One says to the other... "You drive. I'll man the guns." Current Tank Info: 90g in-wall w/40g sump, ER8-3(sedra 5000), Mag7 return, Mag 12 CL, 2x400MH+2x96PC

03/19/2006, 06:33 PM	#3
PENNYWISE Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Derry, Maine Posts: 164	Yeah, I cleaned them off. The smell persists. Thanks though.

03/19/2006, 06:41 PM	#4
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	Did you you try feeling the electrical cords near the plugs? See if any of them are getting warm.

03/19/2006, 08:26 PM	#5
PENNYWISE Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Derry, Maine Posts: 164	Yup. Tried that too. They're not at all even warm?

03/20/2006, 10:00 AM	#8
elephen Moved On Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: kc Posts: 2,763	Has anything been exposed to any moisture, saltwater is a great electrical condutor, I had a nice electrical fire when one cord got a little damp.

03/20/2006, 10:02 AM	#9
elephen Moved On Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: kc Posts: 2,763	Oh yeah and I smelt a faint burning scent for about a month before the fire started.