An Urgent Message - Risk of Fire

[Robin Hufford]

List Members,
    Some important information follows  -  do not delete without reading
first.
     It is well known that halogen lamps get sufficiently hot that they
sometimes ignite adjacent combustible material causing a fire - although
this does not appear, at the moment to be the case in this situation,
which is usually the first thing people think of when a fire is mention
in the context of these lamps, it seems this did not happen in the case
recounted below as the bulbs were evaluated,  would not work, and were
thought to be burned out.
     A fire developed in my shop several months ago doing widespread,
extensive damage, ruining the value in many expensive pianos.
Although the cause of origin is still being investigated I am convinced
that the fire began in a halogen work light in which, as I said above,
the bulbs were not working, even though the power cord was still plugged
in.  The light had been plugged in to evaluate the bulbs which were
thought to be burned out.  They did not work; later, I belive,  the
light itself developed a fire which then spread into the shop.
     This light is the yellow and black worklight built by Chicago
Electric and sold at Harbor Freight.  It comes on an extendable tripod
with two lamps mounted on a crosspiece.  Each lamp is provided with its
own switch.
     The power cord for this light comes up to a small black junction
box out of  which  two cords then proceed, each to the respective
switch for its lamphead.
     Additional information has been discovered, unconnected with me or
my shop,  which indicates that the connections in the interior of this
junction box may be unreliable, and, if so, it is my opinion, they can
indeed be dangerous as it appears that this box was either the origin of
the fire or connected in someway to it.
     I have not disassembled one of these boxes even though I have
several of these lights as they are to be preserved intact for later
investigation.
     However, several individuals, unknown to each other,  operating
entirely independently of each other,  have described  to me the
connections made in the interior of this box,  where a crimp is used to
attach the cord to a connector,    in highly negative terms, basically,
considering it dangerous.  Of course, this is a fact I wish I had been
aware of before buying the damn things.    This crimp may loosen and
cause problems and needs periodic attention.    I presonally believe
this contributed to the development of the fire mentioned above.
     For this reason it seems highly advisable to inspect this
connection if you have such a light.  One should be aware, if a loose
connection does exist here,  that it may lead one to think the switches
or bulbs are bad which may or may not be the case.  UNDER NO
CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE LIGHT EVER BE LEFT PLUGGED IN - BURNING OR NOT
- WITHOUT OBSERVATION.   I believe it can also lead to a fire.
     Let is remember our OT list discipline; if one wishes to
communicate with me on this subject, unless it has a general interest to
the members of the list, please contact me privately.
Regards, Robin Hufford