Ballast Melt Down

[LD_baugh]

What can cause a ballast to over heat to the point of almost catching fire?
I saw one pouring smoke out of a light today. It got so hot the paint on the light burned of. Just curious what might cause something like this.

 

[Cavie]

Very old ballast with no internal thermal link or external fuse. When it gets old and shorts out, the tar inside will get hot, melt and catch fire. newer ones have internal thermal links to shut of the power.

 

[77401]

it will happen even with Thermal protection.

 

[dingokangaroo]

What can cause a ballast to over heat to the point of almost catching fire?a bad helper or a plumber who thinks hes an electrician... lol