Halogen bulb replacement trouble

KiloBravo · 9 Sep 2021

I have three spotlight type halogen bulbs in my bathroom and need to replace 2 (blown). Wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I've never had these sort of lights before but I thought it would just be a matter of popping them out and replacing, it doesn't seem to be that simple.

First I tried seeing if the silver piece on the front screws off, it doesn't seem to. Then I thought maybe the whole unit comes out so gave it a little tug but it felt like I was having to use too much force, so I stopped doing that. Then I went up in the attic to see if it came out there, and it did, but again, doesn't look like it's meant to be done there either.

Any idea on how to replace these?

jj4091 · 9 Sep 2021

In your 4th pic you can see the 2 ends of wire clip that need to be squeezed together & pulled out to allow the lamp to drop down.

KiloBravo · 9 Sep 2021

jj4091 said:
In your 4th pic you can see the 2 ends of wire clip that need to be squeezed together & pulled out to allow the lamp to drop down.

I can't see the clips you're referring to. Also there's a layer of glass right at the edge, the bulb sits behind that.

More pics

jj4091 · 9 Sep 2021

Sorry I thought I saw the ends of a wire clip, wrong again! I've not seen them before either, can you get a quarter turn on the cover to release them. I'm sure one of the other sparks will help you out later.

EFLImpudence · 9 Sep 2021

Harry Bloomfield · 9 Sep 2021

jj4091 said:
Sorry I thought I saw the ends of a wire clip, wrong again! I've not seen them before either, can you get a quarter turn on the cover to release them. I'm sure one of the other sparks will help you out later.

I thought I saw clips too

KiloBravo · 9 Sep 2021

EFLImpudence said:
View attachment 243658

Not sure what to do with this?

Do you think I need to somehow release the whole unit down into the bathroom buy unclipping something in the attic?

KiloBravo · 9 Sep 2021

jj4091 said:
Sorry I thought I saw the ends of a wire clip, wrong again! I've not seen them before either, can you get a quarter turn on the cover to release them. I'm sure one of the other sparks will help you out later.

I did try turning it but that just seems to turn the whole unit.

ericmark · 9 Sep 2021

@EFLImpudence has pointed out the clips, in theory they should simply pull out of the hole, in practice often there is too much tension on the clips and you need to manually hold then against the unit and pull well since in loft push out.

jj4091 · 9 Sep 2021

Just another guess, but removing the whole assy just to replace a lamp seems a bit over the top. Does the glass covering the lamp screw out?

Taylortwocities · 9 Sep 2021

You do not need to remove a light fitting from the ceiling just to change the lamp!
The OP is missing a trick, but I don't know what it is! (sorry, not helpful!).

PS Halogen bulbs are now more or less obsolete, so an alternative lamp is going to be needed soon anyways,

333rocky333 · 9 Sep 2021

KiloBravo said:
Not sure what to do with this?

Do you think I need to somehow release the whole unit down into the bathroom buy unclipping something in the attic?

I would gently pull it down so its halfway out, enough to grab hold of the main body, you will be fighting against two spring tensioners though, they are what you can see in the loft, so will need a little force.

Mind they dont catch your fingers as it will hurt, if they snap back on you.

Whilst holding that body retry twisting the chrome bezel bit.
Sometimes the lampheat causes metal to expand jamming things together.

markyd1 · 10 Sep 2021

Also do yourself a favour and clear some of that crap from around the lights

ericmark · 11 Sep 2021

under model it says 20 - 50 VA this means can't use LED as too small, not enough load, so better renewing the whole thing and go to GU10 so no need for the electronic transformer, I would call them a power supply as far more in them than simple transformer.

KiloBravo · 11 Sep 2021

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

333rocky333 said:
I would gently pull it down so its halfway out, enough to grab hold of the main body, you will be fighting against two spring tensioners though, they are what you can see in the loft, so will need a little force.

Mind they dont catch your fingers as it will hurt, if they snap back on you.

Whilst holding that body retry twisting the chrome bezel bit.
Sometimes the lampheat causes metal to expand jamming things together.

Ok I somewhat gave this a try and then bottled it as I didn't want to crack the pain in the ceiling. But I'm going to try again as the chrome did very slightly turn.

markyd1 said:
Also do yourself a favour and clear some of that crap from around the lights

Is that because these overheat?

ericmark said:
View attachment 243834 under model it says 20 - 50 VA this means can't use LED as too small, not enough load, so better renewing the whole thing and go to GU10 so no need for the electronic transformer, I would call them a power supply as far more in them than simple transformer.

Is this a relatively simple task? Or is their a lot to consider compatibility and fitting wise?

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Halogen bulb replacement trouble

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