Stuck spotlights

Supernova

Any tips for unscrewing spot bulbs which are stuck inside fittings inside a suspended ceiliing? They are the type which are flush to the ceiling and held in place by springs.

I have five out of seven in bathroom and kitchen which won't budge. They unthread a certain amount of the way and then won't unscrew even if I take the whole fitting out.

Ta

bockster

they are screw thread aren't they?? and not bayonet cap??
if so, wd40, let the oil penetrate for 10mins, then keep rotating one way then the other, gently until they loosen.

Supernova

That's a damn fine idea! Should have thought of that. I'll check that I can actually get the WD in there.

And yes they are screw thread.

I'll try to remember to switch the electrics off too ;-)

jason123_2

Held in with a spring, do you mean the housing is held in the plasterboard, or the bulb is held in, have you tried a quarter turn anticlockwise then pull???

Supernova

It's a screwbulb so needs more than a quarter turn.

The ceiling is suspended so the bulb fitting and cable connection is above the plasterboard ceiling held either side by two springs and a flush faceplate.

Can't find the product on the web to illustrate.

Avoriaz

We installed similar spotlights about 15 years ago. A big mistake in my experience.

They take R80 screw in bulbs which are expensive and don’t seem to last very long.

I think the fittings overheat which reduces the bulb life and also causes that sticking problem you have experienced. I find brute force the only solution. Wear protective gloves in case the glass breaks.

We have about 9 in the kitchen and 6 in the bathroom and I really must replace them with better light fittings one day. Low voltage halogen I think.

loracan1

Avoriaz wrote:

They take R80 screw in bulbs which are expensive and don’t seem to last very long.

I shelled out a bit extra for some long-life R-80s for my kitchen bulbs which seemed to burn out after approximately 3 months. Cost was about twice a normal bulb and they've been in about 2 years!

Supernova

Thanks guys.

Yeah, had mine for about 11 years. Don't really need more than one spot in the bathroom to be honest.

I shall tackle the situation at the weekend I think.

tooconfused_2

use rubber washing up gloves to remove the bulbs they give better friction when you put in the new bulbs smear a small amount of vaseline on the threads to stop then sticking

Supernova

Mmm nice tip. Thanks.

nichere

just thought i could share this with you all if you dont change a spotlight straight away when they blow that it actually shortens the life expectancy of the other spotlights that you have on the circuit.