Originally Posted By: sciphi
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Could this be due to the heat from the fixture?
If you could absolutely verify that to be so (e.g. Via ammeter), then Id get either some heat shrink and/or some high temp fiberglass-silicone slip over insulation and fix it.
The fixture itself shows signs of heat damage. The glue on the back of the insulation is brown, and the foil face is disintegrating. The light switch controlling the fixture was replaced as a part of a different project. The wires at the switch were normal, IIRC.
Would replacing the insulation be okay outside of the box?
I wouldnt replace insulation outside of the box, but if this were heat damage, I wouldnt expect it to go much beyond the box where the heat was the highest.
What I stated is a protective measure to better insulate the existing wires given that the ratings of the crispy insulation might not be the same anymore.
Its suitable for the last few inches of the wire inside the box, IMO.
Ang again, if and only if this is due to heat from the fixture, NOT if its due to some high impedance short or other failure.