How to change a light bulb in a suspended ceiling

Any light bulb can and should burn out sooner or later. It's in their nature. And even if the manufacturer promises that it will work for a very long time, no one can guarantee that there will be no power surges or other troubles in the electrical network. And as you know, almost all electrical appliances simply cannot “digest” such surges and break down.

The characteristics of many lighting fixtures change over the course of their activity. This forces them to be replaced. Just imagine: a lot of identical lamps, but they start to shine in different colors.

Changing a light bulb in a lamp that is built into a suspended ceiling is not difficult. And usually there are no difficulties with this. Of course, there are some features that need to be kept in mind, but solving such a problem will not be difficult for almost anyone.

Types of lamps for stretch ceilings

Before you start changing lamps, you need to find out what types of lamps can be used in ceiling lamps.

Incandescent lamps

Lamps of this type have been known for a long time and were the first to be available to humans. Using them in ceiling lamps is ineffective, since most of the energy is simply lost. No more than two percent of it is released into the light. In addition, they get very hot during operation. The heat they generate goes directly into the cavity between the main and suspended ceilings, where there is no ventilation at all.

The strong heating of incandescent lamps does not make it possible to use them in suspended ceilings, since the latter are made on the basis of PVC film, which can simply melt. Because of this, they are used only in ordinary chandeliers, where the light source is sufficiently distant from the canvas.

In addition, these lamps are large in size - sometimes their length is fifteen centimeters. This is another disadvantage of using them in suspended ceilings. There are only two positive points to note:

• they are inexpensive;
• work even where the humidity is too high and the temperature is low.

Halogen

Previously, when few people knew and saw suspended ceilings, lamps of this type were successfully used in car headlights and in various spotlights. But gradually people “tasted” all the delights of these devices, so they began to come into fashion and be used in suspended ceilings.

Their positive properties:

• can be used for up to ten years;
• no need to waste time heating; they receive power simultaneously with pressing the switch;
• wide range of colors;
• pleasant light spectrum, the rays are very bright and saturated;
• The angle of incidence of light can be changed.

Reference. Halogen lamps installed in ceiling lamps can realize any design idea.

There are no downsides here either:

• require too much electrical energy;
• get quite hot;
• Additional ventilation is required for operation;
• their cost is quite high.

But you can turn a blind eye to all these shortcomings, since during the entire period of use they practically do not fail and do not have to be replaced.

Energy saving

The task of these lighting devices is not just to shine, but to shine economically. Their very name already speaks about this. Fluorescent lamps can also be included in this category.

Their positive qualities:

• economical;
• small in size;
• wide range of design solutions.

Their biggest and, perhaps, main drawback is their too short service life. And this period tends to decrease the more often the lamp is turned on and off. In a word, if you want the light bulb to burn out faster, turn it on and off more often. They also don’t like voltage surges. But if you follow all the requirements for use, they can work for up to five years.

Attention! If the room has high humidity, then it is not advisable to use such devices.

LED

This type of light source appeared on the market relatively recently, but has managed to gain popularity because it has the following qualities:

• service life reaches ten years or more;
• consumes a small amount of electricity, comparable to fluorescent lighting devices;
• light does not have a negative effect on the eyes;
• thanks to the special regulators that come with the kit, it is possible to change the brightness of the light, as well as its shade;
• LEDs allow you to create a directional flow of light, which allows you to focus attention on any specific area.

Their disadvantage is the cost.

LED lamps can have different solutions:

• they can be manufactured as a self-sufficient device, which after installation can already be used, but if the LED burns out, it will be impossible to replace it and the entire device will need to be replaced;
• They are also produced in the form of a separate housing, in which the LED can be replaced.

LED strips stand somewhat apart, which are often used to create decorative lighting or to highlight one specific area in a room.

Reference. We can conclude that halogen, fluorescent and LED options are best suited as light sources for ceiling lamps.

General steps when replacing any types of lamps

When changing any light bulb, you must comply with the following basic requirements:

• When starting work, it is necessary to completely de-energize the room;
• check whether the wiring is working properly and how reliable the contacts are;
• make sure that the voltage of the device and the lamp match each other;
• If a fluorescent lamp is accidentally broken during installation, you should remove all glass fragments and get rid of any remaining mercury;
• if you cannot remove the halogen lamp from its place, then it is better to remove the entire lamp;
• Before purchasing a particular lamp, you should study its technical characteristics.

How to replace a lamp in a ceiling light

Each type of lamp has its own characteristics when dismantling. This depends on the type of cartridge used in them. Before starting work, you need to check whether the room is de-energized. It is better to turn off the power directly at the electric meter to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

G5.3

These bulbs are difficult to remove from the lamp; they are recessed into the body of the device and are located above the plane of the ceiling.They are held inside the lampshade by a retaining ring or wire brackets. Such lamps can be equipped with halogen lamps or LEDs with a pin connection.

To replace a lamp equipped with a G5.3 socket, you need to press on the antennae and remove the fixation bracket. If a locking ring is used for fixation, then you just need to unscrew it. After this, the light bulb is released. By pulling it towards us, we disconnect it. Next, install a working lamp and secure the fixing element.

Important! When installing a halogen lamp, do not handle it with bare hands. It would be better to take it with a napkin. This will prevent contamination and therefore reduce their service life.

It happens that after the lamp is replaced, the retaining ring is not installed back. There are several reasons for this:

• the device body may be damaged - in this case you will have to replace it;
• if the ceiling is high and the concrete base interferes with the plinth, you will need to select a lamp of appropriate dimensions;
• Incorrect size of clamps - this often happens when several light bulbs are changed at the same time, causing confusion in the retaining rings.

GX53

Lamps that are equipped with lamps with a GX53 base extend beyond the edge of the ceiling by four millimeters. They have two contact pins that fit into slots inside the device. To dismantle, turn the bulb until you hear a click, and then you can remove it.

Replacing such a lamp is not difficult; you do not need to disconnect anything or unscrew the clamps. Simply place another device and turn.

G4, G9

The housing of such lamps is located above the ceiling surface.This type of base is used to equip LED or halogen lighting devices with a pin connection. To remove them, you just need to pull them. After this, a new light bulb is simply inserted.

Replacing E-14 and E-27 lamps

Lighting fixtures with sockets of this type are “rare guests” in ceiling lamps; pin versions are more common. But they still meet. In order to change, they are simply unscrewed. What should be done to replace a lamp with a threaded base in a ceiling lamp?

Depending on the type of lamp, there may be a locking ring in it, but the device itself may have to be removed from the ceiling. In the plasterboard ceiling, to hold the lamp, there are spring-loaded arms that stand opposite each other. The spring pushes them apart. To facilitate the task of replacing the lamp, the lamp is carefully pulled out of its socket in the ceiling. Under the influence of tension, the paws will move towards each other and the device can be pulled out.

Sequence of actions for changing lamps in a suspended ceiling

In order to replace a faulty lamp in a ceiling light, you first need to unscrew the retaining ring - it looks like a wire in the form of a spring. You should be especially careful so that it does not jump out, hurt your eyes, or simply get lost. The next step is to remove the lamp itself. You should not use much force: you can break the lamp bulb or damage the ceiling covering.

Sometimes, to change the lamp, you need to remove the entire device from the socket. As a rule, spring clips are used for fixation. If you pry the lamp a little and pull it towards you, it will come free.In this case, the springs holding it will become visible; they should be compressed so that the device completely comes out of its place.

Attention! Be careful with springs: they are very dangerous.

If the light source has a base equipped with a thread, then it is better to use a piece of cloth to unscrew it - this way we will be protected from fragments if it suddenly bursts, and our fingers will not slide on the glass.

Most people have no idea how to change lamps in suspended ceilings. They are simply afraid to do this, so as not to spoil the coating. Of course, caution has never harmed anyone, but stretch ceilings are fixed to the main ceiling, so no problems arise during replacement. You just need to change them the same way as in any other place.