What happened? Lamp short-circuited on me!

[Fellhoelter]

Nathan is spot on here.
Find your problem, don't guess.

Use your meter in continuity mode to test the lamp.

Why folks would advocate plugging it back in to test for voltage seems silly and dangerous to me, when you can learn the same thing without it being energized.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

...I tested continuity and can't find any between the legs and outside of either lamp. The only continuity I found was between the ground leg and outside of the fluorescent lamp, which I think is how it is supposed to be right?

I did test for continuity with the multimeter. The dust idea is a good one and I'll also blow the electrical stuff but in this case it is not the problem.

I agree Nathan, I would like to find out what was wrong but in this case I just can't seem to and need to move on I think. And I never outright throw anything away. I'll keep the arm, I am sure I'll find some use for it.

Thanks again for your help.