NJ,

I haven't worked with BESA before, but I have had the pleasure [Linked Image] of my share of high end low volt lighting.

The heating of the wire at the sockets will be the conducted heat, in large part, generated by the lamp itself. The lamp holder is so tiny that is will not sink much heat.

I'll bet that there was some schmutz on the end of the pendant conductors where they're riveted to the lampholders. Just a hunch, though.

Being as it is in your home, you have the luxury of observing it that we normally don't get in the field. I'd start to investigate if the smoke reappears.

Otherwise, I'd crack it up to how tiny the parts are and how hot the bulb gets, and even the very expensive high end has the same cheap parts (much of the time).

[This message has been edited by ElectricAL (edited 11-17-2004).]

Al Hildenbrand