How to access the bulb on ceiling downlights?

krfilo

Greetings! Apologies in advance if this is a silly and/or obvious question:

A lightbulb in our ceiling has burnt out. I am not sure how to access the bulb to remove and replace. I have attached a photo of the light fixture for reference. I can pull down the fixture slightly from the edges, but it catches on the ceiling. And I do not want to damage the ceiling.

Thank you in advance for your insights!

JacobZ

Hi @krfilo,

Thank you for your question about your downlights.

Unfortunately, most modern downlights use LEDs and don't have replaceable bulbs. Luckily, if the downlights are modern, there is a good chance you can replace them yourself and won't need to call an electrician.

For safety, it is best to turn off the power at your power board before removing any downlights.

The way to remove them is to pull them straight down like you have been. The resistance you are feeling is two spring-loaded toggles that pull against the back of the plasterboard to hold the light fitting in place.

If you keep pulling gently, they will eventually aim straight up and the spring will make them push sideways into the plasterboard.

At this stage, you should be able to see them and can place your hand on them to stop them snapping back down, which is what can damage the plasterboard.

Once the light fitting is out, you can see whether it is a downlight with a plug, like the one I've shown above. If this is the case, you can replace them yourself. If they do not have a plug-in connector and you can see they are connected to a Downlight Transformer, then you'll have to contact an electrician for their assistance.

If they have a plug, you can replace them yourself; you will just have to match the diameter of the cutout in the ceiling. You can even bring the old downlight in store with you to match it up with a replacement.

I'd suggest using tri-colour downlights, like these Arlec 9W Tri-Colour Dimmable LED Downlights, as they have a switch that allows you to change the light spectrum that they emit. This will allow you to match them up with your existing downlights.

If you are not confident with replacing your downlight or you find that they are not plug in lights, please contact an electrician for their assistance.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob