Eight Volts From a Twelve Volt Battery?

Doea an automotive 12v dc system actually send 12 volts to a bulb socket? My car shows 8 volts at the socket with the switch turned on. Do I have a wiring problem or not?
- Scott Lovenbury (age 19)
Sandpoint

Not good, Scott...

You may have a bad battery, or a bad voltmeter.  It's also possble you might have a short somewhere.   Did you also measure the voltage right at the battery terminals?  It should be 12 volts both with ignition switch turned off and on. 

LeeH

(published on 07/19/2015)