Abstract: The invention is directed to a lamp holder for carrying a fluorescent lamp, including two contact pins, with each contact pin having a diameter. A socket includes an inner hub, two slots and a conductor. The two slots are disposed on opposite sides of the inner hub. A spring biases the contact pins out of the slots. The conductor is associated with each slot, and is configured to engage each contact pin of the fluorescent lamp. The conductor and the inner hub define a clearance distance therebetween in a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of each slot, with the clearance distance at all times being greater than the diameter of the contact pins. The clearance distance allows the contact pins to be moved away from the conductor by the spring, to thereby prevent electrical arcing when one of the contact pins is not fully engaged with the conductor.