Re: Arri 1k open face are melting !

Yep...that's not uncommon.
As a matter of fact our company just relit MARTHA STEWART, and there was a some concern about using the open face units on the 30 Chimeras we put in the studio.

Several years ago (9 to be precise) ARRI actually recalled those units as there were several instances were they actually burst into flames ...twice in front of me .... once LIVE on ABC-TV's ELECTION NIGHT SPECIAL with Peter Jennings (Bush/Gore coverage). After a long day of coverage, at about 2 in the morning (remember how late results were for that electrion?), one of the chimeras actually burst into flames along with the light...causing the unflappable and debonaire Jennings to calmly tell the world that one of his lights was on fire. My electrician ran out to the studio floor with an extinguisher and put out the fire while cameras documented the event (the most lively thing to happen for hours) for millions of people.
Another time, while I was standing on the set for GOOD MORNING AMERICA talking with Diane Sawyer, balls of fire-engulfed-plastic plummeted between us setting the carpet on fire. I looked up to see an ARRI 1kw open face in flames.
Any compact fixture that is enclosed in a lightbank would be prone to overheating, this particular unit however, was the only one I've seen actually react so adversely.

DS