> I have been having a problem with the light fixture in my
> kitchen going
> through bulbs fast (bulbs lasting about a month). This
> fixture uses the more
> expensive, large diameter bulbs.  When the last one went out,
> I did not
> replace it right away.  Several days later, it came back to life!
>
> Since then, it has gone out several times (for 2-7 days) but
> has, so far,
> always come back to life.
>
> I have measured the voltage in the socket during one of the
> bulb's dead
> periods and verified that there is power in the socket (117v).

You do not say what sort of socket it is, but if it is a bayonet one I would
suspect the spring in one of the contacts is broken or lost tension due to
heat (possibly from using too high wattage bulb for the fitting? :)) Even if
it is a screw fitting the contact spring may have similar problems.

The other possibility is the wire in the back of the socket is only just
touching the pin, and replacing the bulb disturbs the socket enough to make
good enough contact for it to work until the heat corrodes the wire at the
point of contact again.

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