Bulb in front door lantern continually goes out (within max watts) Should I buy new fixture? What's cause?

Answer 1

The two things that would cause the bulb to go out are overheating and mechanical shock or vibration. We can probably rule out shock and vibration, so that leaves overheating as the likely cause. Overheating can result from insufficient air flow, too large a bulb for the fixture, or too high a voltage for the rating of the bulb. It may also be that the brand of light bulbs you've been using are not very durable.

There are several things that you should try before changing the fixture. The most obvious is to try a different brand of light bulb, or a smaller wattage bulb. Beyond that, you should look for long life bulbs, also known as traffic signal bulbs, which are rated for a higher voltage, around 130 volts. The filament of these bulbs won't get as hot when operated at 120 volts, and will last longer. Or you can use a ruggedized bulb of the type used in mechanics' drop lights.

But what I really recommend is to use a florescent light bulb instead of the traditional incandescent light bulb. They consume much less energy and are much cooler. Although they cost more initially, they will last forever (almost).

Answer 2

<>Is there a leak (any moisture when it rains)? If not, try a smaller bulb and see what happens. If it keeps blowing, change the fixture. If that doesn't do it, call an electrician...you have some kind of wiring problem.

Answer 3

Try a "rough service" bulb. My bet is that the opening and closing of the door is shaking the bulb, and causing premature breakage of the filament. If you are in a warmer climate, you could use a flourescent bulb (which has no filaments)...but if it gets cold, they don't work very well.