San Antonio Off Topic Thread (Rule: camping, parks, island)

[djw]

Any electricians out there?
I have two lights on the outside of my house on either side of the garage. The same light has "blown" out three times since we've lived here and the other one has never needed replacing. WTH???
Each time I've replaced it, I've used the same wattage/shape/size as the bulb on the other side and it's always been a new bulb. I don't get it.

[goodmanm]

Are they motion sensors?

I have four on the outside. I have to replace one more than the others because it's on more than the others.

I know it sounds simplistic - I don't mean to offend.

[djw]

Nope. Just plain old lights that I turn off/on with a switch. If one's on...they are all on. Well, they're supposed to be!
I'm thinking it's a shortage somewhere. Just not sure how concerned I should be about it!

[rd2007]

Replace the switch. One of my bedrooms had that issue and replacing the switch resolved it. They're really easy to replace. You might need a stronger switch since the outside lights were probably added after construction and the extra load is causing your problem.

[rd2007]

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[djw]

I'm not sure what you mean by stronger switch? One switch turns on those two lights plus the one on the porch. The house was just built 2 yrs ago and both lights came with it. Thanks for the suggestion, though. Someone in the "House" forum suggested it may be the vibration from the garage door causing the problem.
Again, just not sure how much I should worry about it.

[rd2007]

Switches have different amperage ratings like the breakers. If the lights came with the house they should have the correct rating on the switch. However, that's assuming the electrician didn't screw up. I know my breaker box was marked wrong, so they had to scribble out some of the numbers and move them around, so they obviously make mistakes.
I'd still replace it with a switch of the same rating just to see what happens. You can get them for under a dollar and installation shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. They also sell more durable ones and that might be a good idea. They're more expensive of course, but they are also higher quality.

[djw]

Ahhh, I get it. I needed another reason to go to Home Depot anyway!! I like to have at least 2-3 things on my list that way if I forget one in my shopping stupor it's not a total loss!

But would a faulty switch cause the bulb to blow or just cause the fixture to not work?

[rd2007]

I kept getting blown bulbs and the switch was the last thing I replaced. I won't pretend to be an electrician though. All I know I've learned from working on my house. I've gotta replace the ballasts in my kitchen light next. I thought those things lasted forever, but from what I've read they only last a year or so, which explains why this will be the second time I've replaced them. Unfortunately, they're not cheap and the bulbs they blow aren't either..

[rd2007]

did the negative rep option disappear for everyone? or is it just for me?
I've never done it, but noticed it's not an option when I was spreading around some to people today