MrWizard wrote:
Sounds to me like you cut the wires , with out disconnecting the fuse
You blew the fuse
When you read the voltage, you are reading a phantom voltage, there is not enough connection inside the fuse to carry the actual current to the lamp
Go replace the fuse and see if they will come on
I think you nailed it. I hooked up an old trailer light I have in my electrical surplus and it didn`t work either went inside and one of the 12v circuits was showing a red fault light. Replaced the burnt 15 amp fuse and all is well now.