help us change the light bulb

March 11, 2011 10:54 PM

Does anyone know how to take out this halogen light bulb? Is there a trick?

We can't seem to get the bulb out, have tried pulling on both sides, and pushing one side in as though it were on a spring (like a battery) but nothing works...

posted by beccyjoe to Home & Garden (9 answers total)

That's a quartz bulb. It's spring loaded so you should be able to shift it left or right and then down. I just had to replace one. Even if it doesn't seem spring loaded, try harder. They burn *really hot* so stuff can get stuck. Make sure if you plan to reuse the bulb to use a tissue to hold it as fingerprints are very bad for these bulbs because of how hot they do burn.
posted by kthxbi at 10:57 PM on March 11, 2011 [4 favorites]

Based on the picture it looks like you'll need to push it to the left and then the right side will be able to come down.
posted by kthxbi at 10:58 PM on March 11, 2011

Make sure if you plan to reuse the bulb to use a tissue to hold it as fingerprints are very bad for these bulbs because of how hot they do burn.

Same goes if you are replacing the globe - use a tissue or clean cloth to hold the new one when you are removing it from packaging and slotting it in.
posted by Kerasia at 12:09 AM on March 12, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks all. I think it is melted in or something, we cannot get it to budge. Sigh. Another night in the dark.
posted by beccyjoe at 3:42 AM on March 12, 2011

Put a small screwdriver in between the contacts on the fixture and the bulb, gently pry it loose. They get really hot and do get stuck.
posted by fixedgear at 5:17 AM on March 12, 2011

Definitely keep trying. Because the bulbs last so long, those spring-loaded mounts just get stuck in-place after awhile. Ours is always difficult.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:57 AM on March 12, 2011 [1 favorite]

Sometimes, I used to get those caught so that the springs were compressed and the bulb was lodged in there. Each end has a dimple where the contact should sit, but if you have both ends partially out, it can get pretty well stuck between the springy contacts. When that happens, you need to try to reseat it by pushing it in. It may take some jiggling. Then, after you feel it click in, push it all the way towards one end where you feel it spring and then swing the other end out.
posted by advicepig at 6:15 AM on March 12, 2011

fixedgear writes "Put a small screwdriver in between the contacts on the fixture and the bulb, gently pry it loose."

I like to use a plastic screwdriver, wood popsicle stick, chopstick or something similar because the relatively soft material spreads the force out on the brittle ceramic of the bulb.

Also lightly gripping the ceramic with a pair of pliers and giving the bulb a twist can loosen things up if the contacts have stuck together.
posted by Mitheral at 7:55 AM on March 12, 2011

Response by poster: Many thanks. We'll try these tricks tomorrow when it's light.
posted by beccyjoe at 5:17 AM on March 13, 2011