Underhood Light Voltage = 7.6 VDC

[RodRamos]

I'm getting ready to put in an under-hood light, and so I checked the voltage at the connector that would typically connect to the OEM under-hood light if one had car from a model year that had the light. I got 7.6 VDC when I checked it with my VOM. I checked the battery, and that showed 12.1 VDC. Aside from the obvious "bad connection upstream somewhere" cause of low voltage, does anyone know if there is some technical reason voltage would show low when tested, but still operate properly once a load is put on the circuit, or is 7.6 volts just way too 4.5 VDC low?

I ask, because I'd hate for the answer to be "you've got to find the bad connection upstream," which sounds like a lot of work to me, generally.

Thanks for any tips, insight, or topical electrical humor. Cheers!

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