Deadly Cold Cathode Lighting

[Arkane13131]

I bought a set of cold cathode lights, from a local store here in Southern California.
UV lights to light up the yellow parts of my EVGA mobo and man they looked sweet.

36 hours later, (my computer had been on the whole time) I'm sitting at my desk playin guild wars (I know I know, right there i was just asking for trouble) and I smell burning plastic.

First thing that goes through my mind is, "Oh god the 7900gt volt mod finally shows its true nature!" followed by, "Well thank god EVGA has a lifetime warranty."

Upon glancing (more of like a frantic face smashing) into the clear plastic side of my Tsunami dream case, I see one of my brand new cold cathodes, has caught fire.

This case has locks on it.

Im glad I never use them.

I shut the power off, open the case and blow out the flame.

The next thing that runs through my mind, is about how I left it on all night while I slept, as I do always. I mean, if this caught fire in the night....I could have died...but that isnt as bad as if it ruined my computer, and that could have happend too. Circuit boards burn. 7900gt's burn. 3800 X-2's burn. Arctic Silver burns (well maybe >.>) the countless pages of paper work surrounding my computer burn, my wooden desk burns, my floor, my home, my family.

Essentially, I'm writing this as fair warning. I do not recommend Ultra Components and Technologies cold cathode lights.

I call their customer service line, and they say basically "Weird, ahh well just return it to the place you got it. Thanks for calling. *click*" Didn't offer to transfer me to a manager, didn't say they are sorry lol...I mean sorry won't save lives but hey it helps. Ok, the conversation was longer than that, but basically that was the outcome. First the guy tried to tell me it must have been a power surge. Unfortunatly for this theory, I run my computer into a battery powered line conditioner that regulates power and prevents the computer from shutting off during a blackout. Aside from that, although southern california is notorious for lightning strikes in July...(thats sarcasm) there was no storm, no power strangeness, nothing is wrong with the other light, or any of the parts.

Fire = bad for computer.

So what would you all do?

 

[krotchy]

Holy ******, that is insane. Although since nothing else in your case was damaged due to you catching it in time they are not really liable for anything as far as calling a lawyer goes. I do suggest you demand a full refund, as you are no longer comfortable with even a replacement CC.

 

[sniperruff]

"UV cold cathodes look great"

not really.

 

[0roo0roo]

uv cathodes=kewl 5 years ago...

 

[raincityboy]

Yet another reason why not to put lights in your PC.

 

[Ika]

wait, aren't they supposed to be COLD cathodes????

 

[piasabird]

So was this an UL Underwriter's Labratory Approved device? If it was you could possibly make a complaint to them.

Also if your case is fire damaged they should have to replace that.

This is what I would do. Make some pictures of all of the damage and develop or print the pictures. Then send a letter to the CEO of the company involved. Often the people at the top have a different take on customer support than other people do.

I do not know what would make these things catch on fire. Maybe the inside of the case got too hot, or they came in contact with something too hot. I really wonder what made them catch fire. If you had pictuers then you could send the pics to Toms Hardware and ask them what they think caused it. They are always testing things like power supplies. I guess a faulty power supply could cause too much power to get through and make them too hot. The only other thing is possible a crimped wire.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

The PSUs OCP (over current protection) will not save one from shorts through 24~28g wiring. This is why, it is a good idea to fuse these tiny feeds with the appropriate value fuse. Something on the order of .5A. Just a word to the wise

Anything can happen, from a bad cold cathode or a pinched wire that someone over looks.


...Galvanized

 

[Atheus]

Did the tube itself catch fire? I thought they had a vacuum inside, but maybe it's some flammable gas...

The PSUs OCP (over current protection) will not save one from shorts through 24~28g wiring.

If it was the wire shorting to something and catching fire, not the tube, would the company be liable? I'm thinking not.