Do you do any lighting fail, connect a discharge lamp direct to the local current meaning was a SBMV, or accidentally smashed an old lamp. Me too:

2 years ago, i maked a homemade lamp with a PLASTIC LAMPHOLDER, for connect a 160W SBMV lamp! and actually the lampholder is melted!  And I tried to glow the fluorescent tube filaments with a 12V power supply, or chech the fluorescent tubes are not broken with a kitchen lighter! 

https://www.lighting-gallery.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=5197&pos=9&pid=157668

https://www.lighting-gallery.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=5197&pos=0&pid=158496

https://www.lighting-gallery.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=5226&pos=0&pid=158495

https://www.lighting-gallery.net/gallery/displayimage.php?album=5226&pos=10&pid=157696

I had a plug-to-light socket adapter with a 2-outlet-light-socket combo with a pull chain switch where the chain shorted at the plug and tripped the circuit breaker. I broke a few light bulbs as well. One broke by stacking it on top of another to which it fell of and broke on the other It was rare too.  The second one broke by a light falling off my bed and smashing it, and the third one broke by a desk lamp falling on top of it apparently. 

I once connected a 50 watt mercury vapor lamp to 120v thinking I connected it to a ballast that I had made. I ended up plugging the socket with the mercury lamp in it into the wall and plugging the ballast box into itself. Luckily the lamp was only a modern Sylvania.

 

Hmmm... let's see:
-Had a clear 60w Duro-test AT19 roll off of a shelf and shatter on a CARPETED floor.
-Somehow improperly wired a 150w HPS CWA ballast from an M250R2 and had it start shooting flames... in my room. I couldn't get the smell out for weeks.
-Dropped a fluorescent aquarium light in the water while it was still on.
Not related to lighting but I ended up making chlorine gas when I was trying to make a hydrogen generator for my 8th grade science fair. Apparently you aren't supposed to use salt water but instead baking soda water.

I also have done tons of other really stupid things when I didn't know better. Fortunately I have a little more common sense now.

I once connected a 50 watt mercury vapor lamp to 120v thinking I connected it to a ballast that I had made. I ended up plugging the socket with the mercury lamp in it into the wall and plugging the ballast box into itself. Luckily the lamp was only a modern Sylvania.

what did it look like when it was turned on?

-Put a 50w HPS lamp on a 320w PSMH ballast. The lamp exploded on the carpet. Almost ended up burning the entire house down.
-Destroyed a couple of vintage lamp packages.
-Killing a whole bunch of useful working lamps for some reason (F40s, C7s, etc. No HIDs fortunately.)

Hmmm... let's see:
what did it look like when it was turned on?

It just flashed brightly once, the arctube cracked, and it never worked again. The outer bulb stayed intact. I'm lucky it didn't explode because this was in my grandma's house.

-Put a 50w HPS lamp on a 320w PSMH ballast. The lamp exploded on the carpet. Almost ended up burning the entire house down.
-Destroyed a couple of vintage lamp packages.
-Killing a whole bunch of useful working lamps for some reason (F40s, C7s, etc. No HIDs fortunately.)

Did the 50 watt HPS immediately explode? If not, what did it do before exploding?

- I threw a circline at the back fence.
- I ran a 80W mv strait on 240V no ballast
- I tried to install a nice old 40w fluorescent but it slipped out of my hands and onto the floor
- I tried to wind my own 175W mv choke but I was off by a zero in the calculations so I had too little turns, I plugged it onto 240V knowing that the impedance would let it limit the current except it went off with a bang and tripped the MCB

I once connected a 50 watt mercury vapor lamp to 120v thinking I connected it to a ballast that I had made. I ended up plugging the socket with the mercury lamp in it into the wall and plugging the ballast box into itself. Luckily the lamp was only a modern Sylvania.

hahaha . It is very entertaining to watch them on mains without current limiting.

- I got a zap off an igniter before
- I got a belt from 240V because I forgot to insulate switch terminals
- And I got a belt from a lamp, I had my hand on the exposed metal bit on the outside of an E40 base and had my arm on the earthed case and it made me jump back a metre and tripped the RCD

- I ran a 80W mv strait on 240V no ballast

¿What happened when you ran the MV directly to the house power line?

Ithe arc tube melted and popped before any thing major happened

Ithe arc tube melted and popped before any thing major happened

WOW! 

Did the 50 watt HPS immediately explode? If not, what did it do before exploding?

Ran metal halide white for a minute, then... Kaboom! Part of the sodium was smoldering on the carpet, white hot.

Ran metal halide white for a minute, then... Kaboom! Part of the sodium was smoldering on the carpet, white hot.

Do you have pictures of it?