This is why I don't like electronic ballasts with this type of sockets. Insert the lamps the wrong way and it arcs over overheating the pins and contacts leading to this mess. BTW it was relamped but no one bothered replacing the sockets with a old style Y-socket. The Y-sockets are the most fool proof next to the turret plunger style socket.
Lamp used are Sylvania ecologic 3500K 32w. (Super boring!)
It's pretty common unfortuantly....but there are some newer sockets i see today that have a plate that covers up the contacts...but I haven't seen one arc.....but still....i am not sure about them... I have seen Y shaped ones have problems before.....I have some sockets from Africa that are plunger type BUT uses regular bi-pin ones..not special type...
@FGS: Oh yes, sometimes the socket will even melt on an 600Voc electronic ballast at EOL. yes 240V would be fine or 208V, also they will go up to 300V input or down to 90V input.
This socket seems to be made from a cheap plastic and maybe poor contacts if they arcs when used with electronic ballasts (Perhaps these fixtures don't intended to operate with an electronic ballast and therefore haves problems).
In Israel, most of the commercial fluorescent fixtures sockets are made from polycarbonate with a double electrical contact and haven't arcing with an electronic ballast.
You simply insert the lamp directly to the slot and rotate its through the ring slot to the holes until it is stops.
Electronic ballasts with a 120/277V rating will indeed take any voltage inside that range. The circuit inside is probably made to regulate incoming voltage into a smooth, constant voltage, kinda like 78xx or 79xx linear voltage regulators.
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I have a question about electronic ballasts. Some say it's for 120v-277v. Can they be powered by any voltage between 120v and 277v? Like 240v or 208v.
In Israel, most of the commercial fluorescent fixtures sockets are made from polycarbonate with a double electrical contact and haven't arcing with an electronic ballast.
You simply insert the lamp directly to the slot and rotate its through the ring slot to the holes until it is stops.