Where were you when the lights went out? Chances are you were somewhere that needed lighting! In most cases, all that's needed is to replace a burned-out bulb. But sometimes it takes a little more work to fix incandescent (bulb) lighting systems. Here's what you can do about it.

An incandescent light fixture is relatively simple, requiring only a firm mounting and electrical power wires.

How Does It Work?

An incandescent lighting fixture is simply a system that requires an incandescent bulb, the oldest type of electrical lighting. Incandescent bulbs contain a tungsten wire filament that glows when electricity runs through it. These filaments are relatively fragile and don't last very long. Newer lighting systems use gas (see the Fluorescent Lighting Fix-It Guide) or gas and a filament (halogen) to produce light more efficiently. Because incandescent lighting is simple and the bulbs are inexpensive, they will be with us for a long time.

What Can Go Wrong?

Of course, bulbs can burn out. But what can be wrong if you replace the bulb and the fixture still doesn't illuminate? Lighting fixtures can be cracked, wires can come loose, and sockets can fail. Fortunately, all are fixable by the do-it-yourselfer.

Caution!

Incandescent lighting fixtures typically have a label to tell you the maximum power they can safely deliver to a bulb, measured in watts (W). For safety, don't install a 75W bulb in a 60W fixture.