So I've rebuilt my projector case for my 15.4", the panel is stored in the case on it's sled, no controller connected and this mysterious burn appeared today:

guess I can't post pictures any more, anyways it looks like a cigarette burn that blisters all the way through the panel and now the panel doesn't show any signs of powering up. I ran the projector light twice since rebuilding and didn't notice the burn until today. Do I have to pay a forum fee again to post pics???

Safari wasn't working, firefox did work see below.

Ok, my browser safari wasn't showing the posting control panel. Here's some crappy pictures:
Click to view attachment
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It literally looks like a cigarette burn and nobody smokes in my house. It happened overnight with no power to the panel, stored in the new case. I'm stumped, and now it doesn't power up at all so something major fried. I do have a replacement on the way.

Any ideas?

It also burned through to the other side with a subtle blister effect appearing so It burned all the way through the glass! I don't think a 400w mhl would do that especially being right at the very edge of the panel. I must have a panel goblin in my garage. I ran the new box with the panel installed (but disconnected) for maybe 15 minutes once and didn't notice a burn until the next day as it was very noticable then. Could a shorted wire burn through? I couldn't find any other signs of burning in my electronics, circuit boards or wires in the rest of the projector.

very odd. weird that its a perfect circle aswell

It's your avatar candle. You evil sinner you!

You've tested your build with the lamp on and no panel controller? I'm not quite following the history here.

And that's the panel surface itself bubbled up like that? Looks like some serious heat there!

Ok, here's the complete history of this mysterious disaster.

I built a new case for my existing 15.4" setup. While building the new case, I had my 15.4" panel out on my workbench for measuring and sled adjustments. The panel sat on the bench for 2 nights. Near completion of the new case, I mounted the panel on it's sled and put it into the new case for a focus test without connecting the controller. I did two focus tests with the disconnected panel for no longer than 15 minutes each, I didn't notice any damage during these tests. These were just edge focus tests so I didn't need a video signal. Upon trying a video test a couple days after this, I connected the panel and turned on the projector to discover the mafia revenge burn on the screen. The system was only on for about 1 minute before realizing the damage. My only theory is that I had the controller/panel cable connected backwards on the controller board and it shorted the panel in that exact location VERY quickly burning the hole. But I took the panel out to examine it immediately and it wasn't hot so it's still a mystery. My controller still works with the new panel. So who knows what happened.