I was on set. My Profoto Pro-10 pack popped loudly and started smoking. It burned a hole in the studio carpet. The pack is dead ($14,000). My insurance paid for the carpet (Liability) but denied the pack (Property) citing “Electrical Arcing / Mechanical Breakdown.”
Key Takeaways
- “Artificially Generated Current”: Most property policies exclude damage to electrical devices caused by short circuits, arcing, or power surges originating within the device or the building wiring (unless lightning).
- Fire vs. Breakdown: If the pack just smokes and dies, it’s a “Breakdown” (Excluded). If it actively catches fire and creates an open flame, the fire damage to the unit might be covered, but often the component that failed is still excluded.
- Resulting Damage: The carpet is covered under Liability (Third Party) or Property (if you own the studio) because the fire was a “Resulting Loss” from the breakdown.
- Surge Protection: If you can prove the explosion was caused by a lightning strike or a utility grid surge, you have a claim. If it was just an old capacitor blowing, you don’t.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Internal Failure.”
Insurance covers external threats.
A capacitor exploding is an internal failure. It is considered “End of Life” or “Defect.”
Even though it felt like an explosion, technically it was an electrical short.
You need Equipment Breakdown coverage (sometimes added to Business Owners Policies) to cover this. Standard “Inland Marine” (Gear) policies usually exclude it.
The Investigation (My Analysis of Power)
I checked the “Electrical Injury” clauses.
The Hartford (BOP)
- The Option: You can add “Equipment Breakdown” to a BOP. This covers power surges, arcing, and mechanical failure.
- The Cost: ~$50/year. Worth it for lighting gear.
TCP / Hill & Usher
- The Stance: Their inland marine form usually excludes “Electrical injury to the item itself.”
- The Exception: If fire ensues, the fire damage is covered.
Profoto Warranty
- The Reality: Commercial lighting warranties are short (1-2 years). A Pro-10 repair costs $3,000.
[IMAGE: Photo of a burnt strobe tube and melted plastic casing on a power pack]
Comparison Table
| Event | Standard Gear Policy | Equipment Breakdown Rider | Liability Policy |
| Pack Blows Up (Internal) | Denied | Covered | N/A |
| Lightning Strike | Covered | Covered | N/A |
| Carpet Burns | Covered (Fire) | Covered | Covered (Damage to others) |
| Model Injured by Spark | N/A | N/A | Covered (Bodily Injury) |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Add “Equipment Breakdown”: Call your agent. Ask if you can add this rider. It covers computers and lights frying.
- Use Surge Protectors: Not power strips. Voltage regulators.
- Check the “Cause”: Before filing, ask a tech. If it was a “main board failure,” don’t file. If it was “lightning,” file.
- Keep the Burnt Part: Don’t throw it away. The adjuster needs to see the charring.
FAQ
What if I dropped it and it exploded?
That is “Accidental Damage” (Drop). Covered.
Are flash tubes covered?
Consumables. No.
Does this cover rental gear?
Only if you have Hired Equipment coverage and the rental house holds you liable for “electrical failure” (rare—usually they eat breakdown costs).