install challenge question

[David Gretzmier]

also, sorry, just noticed did not answer the above, no fuse inline.

[PLSWest]

you ran lighter gauge wire to that fixture by accident...

[David Gretzmier]

heading to bed, but wire lead was 16 guage factory wire for 25 feet from fixture to splice to 12 guage with king connectors.

[steveparrott]

Still think there has to be poor connection somewhere - possibly with the socket wire - could be exposed and contacting the fixture body.

[Gr1ffin]

too much pregrease from volt factory? when the u shape of the lamp + pins is inserted it smooshes the grease so it oozes and creates a short.. but prongs fromvoltmeter don't ? disclaimer dave has not told me nor have we ever seen or heard this... just taking a guess.

excuse the poor typing... broke ribs and collar bone over weekend skiing with my 4 kids and using left finger.

[steveparrott]

Originally Posted by Gr1ffin

excuse the poor typing... broke ribs and collar bone over weekend skiing with my 4 kids and using left finger.

Ouch! I know the feeling - hurts to laugh. I pray for your speedy recovery.

[Lite4]

Hmmm, I like Alans answer. Sounds goofy enough to be it. I would think you would have checked the socket to make sure it wasn't missing a contact on one side. Problem has to be with the socket. Missing metal side wall but the base is intact for the probes. Just guessing.

[emby]

Well if you are reading 10.9 volts at the socket without the lamp and then you place the lamp in and it will not work it must be leaking voltage somewhere when the load is attached. Which means that the circuit is not completing. Loose connection, socket or shorting out on something. It would not surprise me to find out that one of the wires going to that fixture was partially broken and therefore could not handle the load of the lamp.
Have you tested the voltage while the lamp is in the socket? If so what is it?
Much like a faulty neautral in my world.

[klkanders]

I would guess that while you were checking the connection you wired a temporary new socket in right there or did you just touch lamp to connectors?
I am siding with others who say the socket is messed up inside or its a bare or pinched socket lead wire.

[David Gretzmier]

socket pins and spring were fine and wire was not contacting the body. socket lead wire was not "pinched" per se, but I am going to say that is the closest answer.

after finding voltage in both the wire nut connection and the socket, and the wire nut connection would light it at the 12g, but not the socket, I cut the lead wire in the middle of the run, about 12 foot from fixture, tested it, bulb lit, and it worked fine. wire nutted back together, and then cut about 6 foot from fixture and it was not fine. between the 6 foot from the fixture and the 12 foot mark, there were no marks on the wire, but replaced it and it worked fine. stripped the entire 6 foot run later on that evening at home, on one side the wire, about 18 inches in, wire had seperated to just a strand or two for about a 3 inch run. external part of the insulation showed no nicks or stretches. the other side of the wire was fine.

my guess is at some point in the manufacturing process something just went wrong with the wire or insulating process, and then corrected itself.

went back and heat shrink tubed the lead wire on tree.

I appreciate all the answers, and as these "stump the lighting guy" items come up I am happy to share them.