Broken light pull

macman

It's well worth buying and trying to fit it yourself, as long as you ensure the lighting circuit is switched off before you start, it's just a a simple connection job.
And if you do get stuck, you'll be no worse off if you have to get a handyperson in. A qualfied electrician is not required to replace a switch in a bathroom.

wannabe_sybil

I really appreciate all the useful advice. I don't know where I would be without you.

I'll get to B&Q and take it from there.

Really, really appreciate all the help.

Ebe_Scrooge

Sounds like you've got a sensible head on your shoulders :-) Yes, the best thing to do is :

First, turn off the electricity at the mains, then unscrew the fitting and see if it's possible to re-thread the pull-cord. Some of them are a piece of cake, some can be a right devil.

If it's not easy to re-thread, then a new switch, as others have said, will be a couple of quid at any hardware shop. It really is easy to do a like-for-like swap, but if you're not confident with electrics do you have a friend who can help ? With all due respect to the electricians here, you shouldn't need to be getting a sparky to replace a switch. Having said that, if you're not sure about it, then better safe than sorry.

wannabe_sybil

Thank you for all your help.

:o I'm not strong enough to get the cover off that's attached to the ceiling.

I shall 'get a man in'. It's probably a lot safer in the long run

However I am saving this thread, because the information was really useful and in similar circumstances I will feel much more confident. Thank you very much for your help.

macman

It should just be secured by two thin screws. The cover is not fixed to the ceiling, it's fixed to the fitting. then the fitting is screwed into the ceiling. Possibly it's been stuck with wallpaper paste or something, just run a blade around it and that should free it off.

jimbo_the_jetset

B&Q actually do quite a good DIY book which explains household wiring, which can be confusing to look at. Also try you local library for a DIY book for useful information. Or be nosey when the person (man or woman) comes to fix.

p.s. assuming you have a modern'ish fuse board you can turn off the upstairs/downstairs lighting fuse (should be labelled) so the light is not on all the time whilst having power elsewhere.

wannabe_sybil

I really appreciate all the help that I had on here, it is such a life saver.

A neighbour actually put the fitting in. Our bathroom is so small that if I had stayed in and watched it would have been adultery, but he showed me afterwards how it worked, and I wouldn't have had the nerve to ask but for on here.

Thank you so much for all the help.

suisidevw

Great, well done