hello, I am getting ready to replace some wires in my house. the walls are wide open, so this is fairly easy, at least in terms of accessibility. first question: is it ok or a bad idea to staple the wire (romex) to the exterior sheathing of the house? In some places, it is quite a run before the wire gets to a stud to staple it. I am under the impression that you have to staple the wire to someting within 8" of the box. is this correct? the main spot i have this problem is at the electrical panel. other locations are generally closer, since the boxes are mounted to the studs. second question: how many pieces of romex can run through one 3/4" hole in a stud? thanks for the advice, in advance.

My wife and I have owned our home for four years. In that time, I would estimate conservatively that we have replaced 75-100 light bulbs. Twice, I have turned on the light switch and watched as a "flame-tip" bulb literally blasted out of it's metal socket into the floor from a ceiling fan. We owned another house for five years before this one and replaced probably 30 bulbs the entire time. What items should I check to determine if thes bulbs are blowing as a result of electrical problems? Thanks, Steve