So why do monolights burn?

I was testing the PW's with one of my Integra 500s and detached the FlexTT5 to modify the settings on the computer. I left the PW's cable plugged in to the monolight and the unit on. All of a sudden I start hearing this loud popping and crackling and smoking (no flames, thank God); I quickly pulled the power cord and it all ceased. Plugged it in again and turned the unit on and the popping/crackling/smok​ing began immediately.

So, the unit is burnt; but what could the cause have been?

TIA

LIkely a problem with the capacitor.

Capacitors really are the weak spot of all flashes.

The big capacitors have fluid in them, but as they age they slowly lose some of the fluid, trying up.

And the seals intended to keep the fluid in dries up.

And in some situations, the fluid is even of a bad type where the fluid chemically reacts and make the capacitors swell up.

The good thing is that it's often not too expensive to repair them as long as they haven't short-circuited and burned out the reset of the electronics.

Hmm, unit's essentially brand new. 'Twas purchased in November.

OK, if it wasn't my fault (essentially what I'm trying to assess by asking here) then it's warranty, methinks.

Thanks.

Yes, if the unit is new then it's a warranty issue.

They should have quite a number of years of good function before the ageing starts to kill off capacitors.

OK. Because now I'm scared to bring out the other unit and burn it too. I was afraid the PW cable or static in the area might have killed it. But, I mean, the humidity is ~40% in the room.

Alveric wrote in post #16574996
OK. Because now I'm scared to bring out the other unit and burn it too. I was afraid the PW cable or static in the area might have killed it. But, I mean, the humidity is ~40% in the room.

A failure in one is likely an isolated event.

Someone else here may be able to shed some more light on this, but a while back I remember there being issues with some budget Chinese strobes with faulty/leaky capacitors. My memory on the issue is a wee bit hazy though is it didn't effect me.

Scatterbrained wrote in post #16575028
Someone else here may be able to shed some more light on this, but a while back I remember there being issues with some budget Chinese strobes with faulty/leaky capacitors. My memory on the issue is a wee bit hazy though is it didn't effect me.

I too remember that a bunch of those were a problem, at least some were rebranded as cowboy studios and others were rebranded for other resellers.

Alveric wrote in post #16574996
OK. Because now I'm scared to bring out the other unit and burn it too. I was afraid the PW cable or static in the area might have killed it. But, I mean, the humidity is ~40% in the room.

You specifically want all your studio lights tested - if the second one also has a component failure then you want to find that out while you have a warranty.

Then I guess I'll test it to-morrow. Do the same things I was doing with this one. If it's gonna burn, might as well it does presently and better here than on a shoot. Thanks.

Also, just in case you were wondering, it has nothing to do with "monolights"..... Speedlights and power packs also burn out..... The loudest pack I ever heard blow was a Speedo 2403, sounded like a freaking bomb went off in the studio. I've also had an old Norman PD pack blow on me. And I've used Novatrons in the past and at least every other year or so, one would blow. We started eventually calling then "Novabombs".

One thing I've noticed is how sensitive to static these things are. I was testing the twin and just touching the lightstand(!!) fired the unit. I wonder if leaving the PW cable dangling from it didn't just act like a bit static electricity antenna that fried the unit.

Alveric wrote in post #16575992
One thing I've noticed is how sensitive to static these things are. I was testing the twin and just touching the lightstand(!!) fired the unit. I wonder if leaving the PW cable dangling from it didn't just act like a bit static electricity antenna that fried the unit.

What is a "static electricity antenna"?

Enjoy! Lon

FlashZebra wrote in post #16576042
What is a "static electricity antenna"?

Enjoy! Lon

A lightning rod.