What does the thin strip next to a Xenon bulb do?

[Dansta]

I simply wonder as i scratched the fook out of it when it kept rubbing the metal rim when trying to get the f**ker in last night... not the glass bulb, just the thing next to it

 

[maximinimus]

It's a wire to complete the circuit, the stuff over it is insulation so it doesn't short on beam reflectors

 

[Dansta]

So a couple of scratches/marks on it won't cause any problems then?

 

[agithegreat]

On the insulation? No.
If you break the wire or severly damage the insulation then you have a problem .

 

[Dansta]

Cool! Thanks for the replies as always people.