Changing bulbs in evil pot lights...

Kinja'd!!! by "BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
Published 01/02/2017 at 18:27

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New house has these evil pot lights in the basement. It took me about 15 minutes to get one of them apart, and now I can’t get it back together. Any idea how it is supposed to be done? It’s no wonder the previous owners didn’t replace 3 out of 7 burned out lights. They probably couldn’t figure out how to get them apart.

Kinja'd!!!

The bulb itself sits in that little white part that swivels. It doesn’t twist out or unscrew. The inner white ring is riveted in. The big white ring somehow pops off, and allows access to everything inside. But to heck if I can actually get the things part and put back together. The bulbs themselves are GU10 bulbs. I’m replacing them with LEDs.

I’m tempted to rip apart, then drill two small holes in the white ring, and screw them back up. Assuming I can actually get the other ones down and apart.

Any guesses what the ‘easy way’ is of doing this, without destroying the fixture, roof, and everything else?


Replies (12)

Kinja'd!!! "CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
01/02/2017 at 18:32, STARS: 0

Maybe this ?

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Kinja'd!!! "BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
01/02/2017 at 18:34, STARS: 0

That’d be way too easy, if that were the case. The bulb won’t come out because of the white metal ring around the base of it (the bulb).

Kinja'd!!! "CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
01/02/2017 at 18:37, STARS: 0

Ah, this might be it...

Kinja'd!!! "BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
01/02/2017 at 18:41, STARS: 1

Closer, but not quite. The fixture itself is a big metal sleeve that runs up above the ceiling. I think I somehow need to unsnap or unscrew the outer metal ring.

As near as I can figure, these are the exact fixtures: https://www.amazon.com/Recessed-Swivel-Remodelers-Non-IC-Contractor/dp/B00BFY3N54

Kinja'd!!! "E92M3" (E46M3)
01/02/2017 at 18:58, STARS: 0

The white trim around the bulb should be able to twist and unlock (if you have it flush not swiveled). You may have to push up with your thumbs slightly before it will turn. That will allow it and the socket the bulb twists into, to fall down, so that the bulb can be removed.

Kinja'd!!! "CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
01/02/2017 at 18:58, STARS: 0

Hmm, very strange.... Sounds like a pain in the ass. Too bad you dont have the installation instruction papers

Kinja'd!!! "BorkBorkBjork" (tbirdlemons)
01/02/2017 at 19:18, STARS: 1

You usually just pull the face right off on lights like that.

Kinja'd!!! "61hp" (61hp)
01/02/2017 at 19:51, STARS: 1

We had track lights at our old house that used suction cups to change the bulbs, similar to the below.

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Kinja'd!!! "FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
01/02/2017 at 19:53, STARS: 0

Edit nevermind, that ring is in the way.

Kinja'd!!! "Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
01/02/2017 at 21:46, STARS: 2

The whole trim just pulls down. They can sometimes be tricky. You don’t want to pull too hard or the clips that hold the housing to the drywall can be damaged.

I have 13 in my kitchen and I am converting to LEDs.

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Kinja'd!!! "AdverseMartyr" (ewilliamson)
01/03/2017 at 01:09, STARS: 0

I believe step 1 is to open a beer, and drink it while contemplating the zen nature of your lighting. Step 2 is probably to repeat step 1 until enlightenment is obtained and you no longer need to change the light bulb.

Kinja'd!!! "BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
01/03/2017 at 19:17, STARS: 0

Ha ha! I don’t drink, but that sounds about right!