Genuinely need help changing a lightbulb!

[lizziewizzie]

Hi everyone,

I can't believe my first post in this forum is asking for help to change a lightbulb, but it is so. I have recently moved into a new house and I've never had bathroom light fittings like these ones. I have tried twisting and pushing up (the outer ring turns but clicks in a way that says please stop!) and I have tried prising the inner ring away (I can get it about 5mm out but then it wont go further). The next thing I was going to try was to pull the inner ring away as much as I could and then get a screwdriver behind it to pull it out. However I don't know if that's even how you get them off to get to the lightbulb and would hate to mess it up.

Has anyone used these before and know how to safely remove them to change the lighbulb?

Many thanks x

Bathroom light fittings

• lizziewizzie
• 30 Dec 2017

Bathroom light fitting

• lizziewizzie
• 30 Dec 2017

 

[John D v2.0]

Are they led fittings? Is the house a fairly new build?

If so there's a good chance the bulb is part of the fitting and is not designed to be changed. It's possible you actually have a faulty light fitting or a wiring fault above the ceiling.

 

[lizziewizzie]

Are they led fittings? Is the house a fairly new build?

If so there's a good chance the bulb is part of the fitting and is not designed to be changed. It's possible you actually have a faulty light fitting or a wiring fault above the ceiling.

I really thought I had basic general knowledge about most things, but it seems I really don't anymore! How do I know if they are LED fittings? The house was built in 1955 but the previous owner, who was only here for 18 months, made a few updates so perhaps changed them?

I will have to get an electrician in at some point to add extra plug sockets to every room so maybe it's best to wait until then and get them to check it out? Fiddling with electrics scares me a tad!

 

[John D v2.0]

How do I know if they are LED fittings?

If they turn on instantly at full brightness but they don't get hot t are probably led.
If they get very hot they are filament bulbs, old style, and slow start will be fluorescent.

 

[333rocky333]

What is the diameter of the lights, it looks like the fittings may be fitted into a converter plate, perhaps due to a large hole from previous fittings

 

[John D v2.0]

Looking carefully at the photo I can see led units behind the diffuser.
Can you get into the loft or floor above? You may be able to see more from there and maybe take a photo for us.

 

[lizziewizzie]

If they turn on instantly at full brightness but they don't get hot t are probably led.
If they get very hot they are filament bulbs, old style, and slow start will be fluorescent.

They are LED then, so bright straight away. That's a bummer, but at least I can stop tugging at the thing now and add it to the list of work I'll have to pay someone to fix! Thank you very much for your help.

 

[lizziewizzie]

What is the diameter of the lights, it looks like the fittings may be fitted into a converter plate, perhaps due to a large hole from previous fittings

The diameter of the whole thing is 6" and the part of the 'bulb' you can see if 1.5".

 

[lizziewizzie]

Looking carefully at the photo I can see led units behind the diffuser.
Can you get into the loft or floor above? You may be able to see more from there and maybe take a photo for us.

I currently don't have access to the loft sorry.

 

[John D v2.0]

They are LED then, so bright straight away. That's a bummer, but at least I can stop tugging at the thing now and add it to the list of work I'll have to pay someone to fix! Thank you very much for your help.

Many LEDs are still changeable if they are the retro fit type. The retro fit type are more likely to fail. But some fittings have the bulb built in and are likely to be more reliable.
Still worth trying to find a way to get them out, but it's possible there's no way.

 

[flameport]

Pull the whole thing out of the ceiling - the 6 inch diameter part, not just the smaller inner piece.
Should then be obvious if it's replaceable or not.

 

[333rocky333]

As said you appear to have these, likely fitted with Gu10 Led lamps, theres no need to access loft, just pull the inner fitting downwards

https://www.googleadservices.com/pa...hUKEwie6KHc9LHYAhUKJMAKHcHGDGEQ9aACCEg&adurl=

 

[Tigercubrider]

Don't forget to turn the power off at the mains

 

[Diyisfun]

As said you appear to have these, likely fitted with Gu10 Led lamps, theres no need to access loft, just pull the inner fitting downwards

https://www.googleadservices.com/pa...hUKEwie6KHc9LHYAhUKJMAKHcHGDGEQ9aACCEg&adurl=

That thing on the left is a spring, so you pull gently, find the spring & push it up.

 

[333rocky333]

That thing on the left is a spring, so you pull gently, find the spring & push it up.

Normally, yes but with the converter plates, the holes so tight its not really possible, the clips have ears, so they are ridged whilst the inner fittings pushed in.
You need to hold the outer converter plate tight to the ceiling and pull the inner fitting down, its usuallly tight and the metal rim will guide the clips out