Bathroom light keeps falling down

paperclap

Hi all,

Got one of those cruddy lights in the bathroom, which I think clips in place with magnets. But, the damn thing keeps randomly falling down.

Any ideas on how to secure it?

Thanks!

pramsay13

I've never seen anything like that before. Assuming the magnet is on the outside part you could bend the tab of the connector on the ceiling out a bit to make sure it reaches.

Lorian

The metal bracket is bent at one end. The two ends will clip in to little slots in the light I believe. Needs the hole sealing to stop cold air migrating down from the loft too,  and moisture heading upwards, as witnessed by the slight mould.

ThisIsWeird

Why do you think it's a magnet - that would be quite unusual.

More likely, I think, is that there are spring clips/balls/whatevers in the light fitting, that pop into the rectangular holes in the ceiling bracket. If so, the Q would be - from which direction?

Try both - give both ends a teeny bend with pliers - just a mm or so, first outwards, and then in if that fails.

Or, take down the light fitting - the wires have a plug - and unscrew the base to have a gander. Or just take the ceiling bracket down too, so's you can test it more easily.

Your first pic nicely misses out the make of the fitting - what is it?

DullGreyGuy

Looks like the ends of the bracket should engage with some form of clip inside the light but either the bracket is bent or the springs in the clip are dead. Certainly one end looks bent that could easily stop a clip engaging.

Also looks like there is a safety wire on the light to stop it falling and leaving bare live wires that hasn't been correctly attached to the bracket. 

MarvinDay

I have a few of these lights in my house and I think that the problem is being caused by the two mounting screws.
They are too big and are in the wrong place and as they are protruding a fair bit, they are not allowing the light body to be pushed up enough for the two tabs on the end of the bracket to clip into place.

The bracket mounting screws need to be smaller and put in the two holes at the ends of the bracket.
Your ceiling looks like plasterboard and if it is, I recommend using these ( I got mine from TLC electrical for about 10p each).

Bigphil1474

I guess they think it's magnetic due to the picture on the back of the light showing a big magnet diagram. I agree with above, the screws look too big. You could remove them and check the bracket still fits into the light, then refit the bracket using better fitting screws. Or get an electrician to come and fit a new light fitting that you are happier with. There will be a joist or two somewhere in that ceiling to fit a light fitting to.

casper_gutman

I think the magnet picture on the light is a red herring. The bracket doesn't look like something that would attach magnetically. I suspect the idea that those big screws are getting in the way is probably correct.

I'd unscrew the mounting bracket from the ceiling and check it will engage securely with the light without the screws there. When it's on, check how much space is between the light and the bracket. You need screws that fit in that space.

MarvinDay

casper_gutman said:

I think the magnet picture on the light is a red herring. The bracket doesn't look like something that would attach magnetically.

You are 100% correct.
With this type of light, you can get different bezels to fit them (chrome, white or black) and these are held onto the light with the magnet that's inside the fitting.

I've got a fair few very similar lights in my house and once they are clipped into place, they stay there until I want to take them down.
These are the ones I've got:
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Lighting_Menu_Index/Circular_LED_Panel/index.html