light fixture smells like fish

[DaveBowden]

Had a service call to a house where the HO said his bathroom smelled like fish. He had researched online and found several sites that said it was likely caused by a loose electrical connection. I have never smelled an electrical issue that smelled like fish, but in checking the light above the vanity it was definitely the source.
The plastic nuts that hold the glass globes up were all cross-threaded on the sockets and the sockets just spun around when trying to remove the lamps.
I removed the fixture and took it semi-apart in order to get the sockets to where I could get the globes off. The leads to the sockets were all twisted. Straightened them out and re-secured the socket holders to the fixture so they no longer spin. Connections all seemed OK
Put the fixture in my truck and after 2 days when the truck stopped smelling like a fish house I went back and rehung it. Told the HO if it stilled smelled after being on for a while he needed a new fixture. It still stinks.
Any ideas on the cause? I have never in nearly 50 years of doing this smelled an electrical problem like this.

 

[Hv&Lv]

That’s actually more common than one would think...
the chemicals used in the plastics give off different odors based on the temperature which they are burned.
”fishy” or pee smell are just the most common ones

 

[Dennis Alwon]

new one on me

 

[growler]

Put the fixture in my truck and after 2 days when the truck stopped smelling like a fish house I went back and rehung it. Told the HO if it stilled smelled after being on for a while he needed a new fixture. It still stinks.

I have never had that problem. I think that unless this was a really expensive fixture I would have just changed it out for a new one. Less expense in the long run.

 

[Hv&Lv]

A couple of years back I had a complaint that the stove suddenly took forever to heat up. The HO wanted to get a new one. They called to see about changing the plug to a four wire.
I thought the place was nasty behind the stove with the smell. The HO even apologized for the smell and said they needed to clean behind it.
I opened the box and the smell was right there. Also the problem with the stove. Loose connection and burnt wirenut.
thats when I started looking into it.
we were at a CE class and I mentioned it. The guys thought I was crazy. All but one that was in there with us. He verified it and told me about the whys, etc...
I wasn’t going to argue with a 78YO electrical contractor that still goes out and does installs every day...but I did look it up.

This Weird Smell Means Your Home May Be in Danger of an Electrical Fire

The smell: A “fishy” odor in your home. We'll explain what you should do if and when you ever come across it.

energytoday.biz

this is an article i just found

 

[sameguy]

Goop is now peddling a vagina-scented candle for $75, and it sold out within hours

Gwyneth Paltrow's alternative wellness company created the candle to spread a vibe of "fantasy, seduction, and a sophisticated warmth."

www.insider.com

Sure they didn't have this burning?

 

[Hv&Lv]

Goop is now peddling a vagina-scented candle for $75, and it sold out within hours

Gwyneth Paltrow's alternative wellness company created the candle to spread a vibe of "fantasy, seduction, and a sophisticated warmth."

www.insider.com

Sure they didn't have this burning?

 

[Little Bill]

I had a similar call for a smell in a ceiling fan. I used the "old sniffer" and determined it was definitely coming from the fan (or area at the ceiling). After taking down the fan and checking all connections, wire condition, etc, I didn't see anything obvious. As I was in the process of putting the light kit back, the smell got stronger. After looking closely at the light kit I saw the problem. When whoever installed the fan & put the globes on, they forgot to remove the rubber bands around the base of the globes that held the packaging on. When the lights were on the globes would heat up, causing the rubber bands to get hot and start to melt. I laughed and cut my service call in half!

 

[hbiss]

It's the old Bakelite and probably the newer phenolic replacements that will give off a fishy odor when overheated. Bakelite lampholders in overlamped fixtures are common for this. Same can happen if there is a high resistance connection with old Bakelite wire nuts too.

-Hal

 

[growler]

Goop is now peddling a vagina-scented candle for $75, and it sold out within hours

Gwyneth Paltrow's alternative wellness company created the candle to spread a vibe of "fantasy, seduction, and a sophisticated warmth."

www.insider.com

Sure they didn't have this burning?

$75 for a candle? About 40 years or maybe a little longer there was an incense of the very same smell that was sold in novelty and head shops ( not that I personally ever went there ) and it was maybe a couple of bucks. Talk about inflation!!

I tried an experiment with friends and a few others to see if they could identify the scent and not a single person got it wrong.

 

[LarryFine]

When whoever installed the fan & put the globes on, they forgot to remove the rubber bands around the base of the globes that held the packaging on.

I've always left the rubber bands on globes that come with them. I have never seen wrapping held on with them, and I believe they're intended to protect the glass from the three mounting screws.

 

[mopowr steve]

I've always left the rubber bands on globes that come with them. I have never seen wrapping held on with them, and I believe they're intended to protect the glass from the three mounting screws.

Yeah, me too. But I thought they were there to aid in keeping the globes from rattling/ ringing from the vibration of motor.

 

[LarryFine]

Yeah, me too. But I thought they were there to aid in keeping the globes from rattling/ ringing from the vibration of motor.

Well, yeah, that, too.

 

[Little Bill]

They will "dry rot" after a while so I take them off. And yes, some/most hold the packaging on the globe.
The ones I referenced that were stinking had already started to melt.

 

[Coppersmith]

I laughed and cut my service call in half!

If you mean you cut your price in half, I think that was a mistake. You didn't solve half the problem, you solved all of it.

 

[Little Bill]

No, elderly couple, not far from my house. The laugh was worth it.

 

[kwired]

$75 for a candle? About 40 years or maybe a little longer there was an incense of the very same smell that was sold in novelty and head shops ( not that I personally ever went there ) and it was maybe a couple of bucks. Talk about inflation!!

I tried an experiment with friends and a few others to see if they could identify the scent and not a single person got it wrong.

Natural resources for making the product are getting more scarce, plus demand has gone up therefore the price has gone up.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

It's the old Bakelite and probably the newer phenolic replacements that will give off a fishy odor when overheated. Bakelite lampholders in overlamped fixtures are common for this. Same can happen if there is a high resistance connection with old Bakelite wire nuts too.

-Hal

I have experienced that fishy odor on a couple of service calls.

 

[mbrooke]

Goop is now peddling a vagina-scented candle for $75, and it sold out within hours

Gwyneth Paltrow's alternative wellness company created the candle to spread a vibe of "fantasy, seduction, and a sophisticated warmth."

www.insider.com

Sure they didn't have this burning?

Thanks- I needed the laugh. Also thankful that I no longer live in an apartment with a common hall way.

 

[ATSman]

Yes, many years ago while working on an ATS _ Gen problem in a hospital cust asked me about loosing lights in one area that smelled like fish. Turned out to be a burnt lighting ballast with burnt Bakelite insulation. Really strong fishy smell !!