electrical problem 400w

first off, WHAT a site this is, love it, anywho,every time i plug my 400w lamp into the mains it sparks at the socket and wont come on, it has an integral ballast .i have had the lamp working once (to try it) and took it down because i had work on the grow room, so when i finally got ready to grow. BANG. no lights so could some sparky from uk help i would be eternally gratefull. taforgot to say i cut the lead shorter could this affect itthe pins on plug have sparked a bit and burnt slightly please help us

Sparking from the socket?? Doesn't sound good at all! Good thing it happenned when u were there, instead of working for an hour and then doing it....

sorted it ta

did you try another outlet?

just thiking outloud here.

maybe some humidity built up inside or around the outlet and when you used it it sparks because of it? i ahve no clue, but i'd try another outlet.