Who'd cut and weld something for me?

Sandtree

So we have a load of Click Scolmore GZ015CH  lights in our open plan room and they're all controlled by just two switches, not only that but which are wired to which switch is a bit silly too). I dont want to go to the faff of rewiring and already having a three switch unit (third switch does the under cabinet lights) I cannot easily add an extra switch.

My thought therefore was to put some smart bulbs in so we have a secondary control mechanism and I happen to have a job lot of Lifx GU10 that I picked up for a song a while back. My problem is the bulbs are too long for the holders and so stick out about 5-7mm. I dont really want to have to replace every light but I cannot find any that look similar enough that can take the longer bulb. So that got me wondering... 

Would t be possible for someone to cut the two side struts and then weld a strip on the side to hold them the 7mm apart required to keep the bulbs flush rather than sticking out? There are only 4 that need modification or am I going to be cheaper buying the c20 new fittings and just replace them all? Who'd be able to do this sort of thing?

droopsnoot

Local fabricator might have someone that would do it in their lunchbreak for a few beer tokens. Or perhaps an old-style car repairer - one that works on older cars would probably have welding equipment. 7mm is reasonably small when you're welding, though, and if it needs to be exactly 7mm that may also prove to be an issue.

Sandtree

It could ± 1mm comfortably, maybe 2 but it would need to be equal on both side else the bulb would be at an angle and probably wouldnt fit as there's not much clearance 

The cut bit will be hidden in the ceiling so they could weld any old scrap on the side to bridge the gap etc... doesnt have to be pretty just fairly accurate. 

Edit  - having just checked the difference is much more than 7mm but the principle and the accuracy remains the same

theoretica

Those look like they may be plated and raise a number of issues for a neat job, including the plating peeling off with heat.  I am generally all in favour of altering things, but that looks tricky to me.

Have you investigated whether shorter smart bulbs exist?  This seems very involved just to use the lightbulbs you already have.

FaceHead

Agree that shorter bulbs or holders than fit the existing bulbs are the answer, so will set you back £10/fitting. 

This proposal seems like a lot of effort and cost, and has no guarantee of ending up looking decent. 

Sandtree

theoretica said:

Have you investigated whether shorter smart bulbs exist?  This seems very involved just to use the lightbulbs you already have.

There are but not from this brand so then won't integrate as well with the other existing bulbs from the same brand and automation will be more limited. The others are E27s etc and so not the same problem 

The other option is to simply replace all 20 of the lights in the room with ones that can take the longer bulbs and then they remain matching via that route but then I suppose I should get fire rated ones so looking at a circa £170.

daivid

Could you not use mending plates (or even old style mechano) to lengthen the struts? Carefully mark and drill holes so when the strut has been cut and bolted to the plate an extra 7mm has been added.

Sandtree

daivid said:

Could you not use mending plates (or even old style mechano) to lengthen the struts? Carefully mark and drill holes so when the strut has been cut and bolted to the plate an extra 7mm has been added.

Theres a new style mechano? When did that happen.

That aside... sounds a good idea

daivid

Sandtree said:

Theres a new style mechano? When did that happen.

It went plastic for a while, but a quick google suggests it is back to metal.

GDB2222

Meccano is painted, so you’ll lose the earth conductivity. It may not be rigid enough.

fenwick458

seems a lot easier to just buy the right light fittings, they are not expensive.
probably cheaper than getting them modified