Test tube fell off of my HID... while underwater and turned on!

[Uncle Pug]

At the end of a 70+ minute dive last evening while in 10' of water my 21w HID went out and as I watched the test tube fell out of the reflector shroud (lost unfortunately.) The bulb glowed orange momentarily and then all was quiet.

After getting out of the water I rinsed the thing in a freshwater shower, pulled the bulb and flooded the socket with fresh water. I then blew that out as best I could, plugged the bulb back in (it seemed intact) to see what would happen.

It lit up immediately as soon as I flipped the switch and continued to burn brighter until I turned it off again after a minute. At home I took things apart and again rinsed with fresh. I also pulled the plug out of the slug and after rinsing inside there with fresh water I pushed a small piece of tubing deep into it and let tank air run gently into it for an hour.

After cleaning off the bulb with an alcohol swab I put things back together and fired it up again, leaving it burn for about 5 minutes. All seems to be well. Just need to get a new test tube and I'm back in business.

I would have figured that quenching a 21w HID that has been burning for 70+ minutes with 50F saltwater would shatter the bulb. Are these things incredibly tough or am I just blest?

 

[FIXXERVI6]

I read someplace that you have to allow the bulb and test tube to heat up real good before seating it over the bulb sealing it, because if you put it on cold the heat will cause the tube to pop off.

 

[cmalinowski]

I think it's both tough and you're blessed. My luck would have held out that the thing would have shattered. Of course, I have a DR 10w with the WA bulb...

 

[Uncle Pug]

Well, that could be. The heat would cause the air inside the tube to expand but water pressure would hold it in place until you got shallow... which is what happened to me.

However I have quite a few dives on the light since the last time I had the tube off and on.

 

[Uncle Pug]

This is a Welch Allyn bulb as well. I think they must be sturdier than they look. This is the second time mine has been wet. The first time the slug unscrewed from the ballast enough to let water in from the backside.

 

[wedivebc]

I would have figured that quenching a 21w HID that has been burning for 70+ minutes with 50F saltwater would shatter the bulb. Are these things incredibly tough or am I just blest?

You must be blessed, I just have to look at my diverite MR11 wrong and it blows a bulb

 

[pdoege]

I look sideways at my HID and is another $100 for a new bulb.

UP bathes his in saline, beats it with a hammer, and the bloddy thing lights every time.

What is up with that??

Peter

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

UP ... I have a spare test tube for the 21W bulb ... call me ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[BigJetDriver]

I look sideways at my HID and is another $100 for a new bulb.

UP bathes his in saline, beats it with a hammer, and the bloody thing lights every time.

What is up with that??

Peter

Because he's the worlds only diving camel??

 

[Rick Inman]

Are these things incredibly tough or am I just blest?

Just blest.