according to one embodiment there is provided a lamp device having a lighting module and two pairs of external connection pins for connecting the lamp device to a supply voltage of a lighting fixture . a first terminal of the lighting module is connected to a pin of a first pair of pins by a switch which is closed in response to a voltage difference between both the pins of the first pair of pins and the pins of the second pair of pins exceeding a respective threshold voltage . the lamp is therefore safe to handle even in a condition where one pair of pins is connected and the other is not .