How to get the bulb socket out of the socket

Any work with electricity is dangerous, so even before you unscrew the bulb, you need to read the instructions and the rules of work. The situation is aggravated if the bulb is stuck or burst, and only the base is left inside. There are nuances and with the unscrewing of the bulbs from the suspended ceiling.

The process of replacing the bulb - in which direction to unscrew

We do not have to change light bulbs very often, so every time there is such a simple question as the direction of unscrewing. If a person is standing in front of the socket, he can extract the bulb by unscrewing counterclockwise, and screw in, respectively, in a clockwise direction.

For disassembly, unscrewing is done counterclockwise.

It is easier to remember the correctness of the work by examples. Therefore, you should remember that the bulb is unscrewed and screwed in the same way as the cap from a bottle of water, liquor, sunflower oil.

The replacement should not cause much trouble. It is also important to install a new bulb of the same wattage instead of the old one. Difficulties begin when it is not possible to unscrew the bulb, or it has burst. But even in such a situation, there are effective methods.

Why are the bulbs deformed and stuck?

It happens that the bulb is stuck in the socket. If it is deformed, the reason for this phenomenon may be frequent surges in voltage, outdated service life, perhaps before screwing in the element has already been damaged. When you can not unscrew even by force, you can try to pull out the entire cartridge. Usually it is a three-part construction, after removing the socket is disassembled, if the plinth can be taken out, then good, but if not, you will have to buy the same part for replacement.

The socket in disassembled condition.

Another common problem is sticking. It occurs when there is a loose contact at the screw-in point. The procedure is the same: try to apply force to unscrew or remove the socket. You can also spray lightly with a spray to dissolve rust, it often appears in the construction of outdoor lights or in rooms with high levels of humidity.

Before spraying and any other manipulation, be sure to turn off the circuit breaker. Better - remove the luminaire.

Such problems, by the way, can be avoided by following certain rules:

1. Before screwing in the lamp is necessarily checked for deformation and damage.
2. It is necessary to work only with clean hands, so that no grease stains are left on the base.
3. The lighting element must be screwed tight.
4. Use only lamp models that are suitable for the particular luminaire.

For additional protection, you can apply a little graphite on the base, it will increase the tightness of the connection and exclude the possibility of sticking.

A simple pencil is good for covering with graphite.

Effective ways to unscrew a broken light bulb

When you can't remove a light bulb in one piece, or it burst during use, the task becomes more difficult. The base with the remains of the broken glass is sticking out of the socket. It is almost impossible to unscrew it by hand without cutting yourself. You can use improvised tools and various folk remedies to help.

Remember! The first step will always be to de-energize the room, otherwise the work will be fatal.

You must first de-energize the room.

Ways to remove the plinth without removing the socket

You can, of course, try to do this with your bare hands, but it is still better not quite "bare", and using protective gloves. You will be able to get the remains of the lamp only if it was not screwed on tightly before and is not stuck.

It is better to use tools. The simplest and most reliable option is the use of pliers. If they are not handy, even a plastic bottle or half a potato can help.

Using Pliers or Pliers

Pliers can help in this situation, but even better are fine pliers, which are easier to get inside the construction. With such a tool, it is much easier to grasp any small elements, including the plinth.

Step by step instructions:

1. Sharp remnants of glass are better to beat off for ease of work.
2. Clamp the plinth with thin pliers, twist counterclockwise. At the same time, it is necessary to hold the plafond, it can come off.
3. If you can not unscrew the base, its sides are pressed by the "lips" of the tool or a screwdriver.

Unscrewing the base plate.

If it is not possible to grasp the plinth, you can try the reverse method. To do this, thin pliers are inserted into the structure and pulled apart. It is important not to damage the chuck when performing the work.

Method with a plastic bottle

If you do not have the necessary tools at hand, a plastic bottle will help you unscrew the jammed plinth from the cartridge. Oddly enough, the diameter of the neck of a standard small bottle (0.2 to 3 liters) matches the diameter of the base.

Instructions:

1. First, you need to remove any remaining glass.
2. Heat the neck of the plastic bottle so that it begins to melt. At home, a candle will work for this.
3. Insert the bottle into the base and wait for the heated plastic to set.
4. Once it is fixed inside the base, you can start unscrewing the rest of the lamp.

Using a bottle with a melted neck.

In general, the method is not complicated, but it requires accuracy and a little preparation. You need to protect your hands with gloves, long sleeve clothing, and at least lay newspaper on the floor. This will protect against heated plastic getting on your skin or flooring.

Video lightbulb unscrewing tips.

Using potatoes

When you do not have pliers or a plastic bottle in the house, you can take an ordinary potato. The method will be effective only if the sharp remnants of the glass remain sticking out of the bulb. They will allow to catch it.

Procedure:

1. A large-sized raw potato should be cut in half. It is important for safety that the product is dry, so you should wipe it off.
2. Put a potato on the sharp remnants of the glass so that they go in deep enough.
3. Start unscrewing the base plate.

Successfully unscrewed the lamp.

It is the potato that is suitable for this purpose because of its structure; it is soft enough for the glass to go in, and dense enough not to cut when twisted.

Wine cork

With a cork cork, you can also unscrew the base, for this purpose the cork is trimmed to its size and inserted inside. When you twist it, you can remove the plinth. You can also use the cork by analogy with a potato, stringing it on the remaining pieces of glass.

Inserting the cork into the base.

Disassembling the cartridge

Important! The method is only suitable for collapsible cartridges of the old type. Modern ceramic elements can not be disassembled.

Carbolite cartridge of collapsible construction.

The socket consists of two parts: a threaded connection and a core with contacts. First you must separate the base. Pull out the base with a hand or pliers. If the cartridge is not damaged, it can be reassembled and used again.

Read also

Replacing the socket in the lamp with your own hands

 

Alternative ways

In addition to the basic methods of extracting the remains of the bulb from the socket, there are several other ways:

1. Using paper or cloth. The material is tightly twisted and inserted inside the socket, then the construction is unscrewed counterclockwise.
2. Scissors. The tool is inserted inside the plinth, its blades are spread out so that they fit tightly against the walls, then it remains only to scroll.
3. Special tool. The problem is so common that a tool that can easily pull out the plinth has been invented to solve it. Additionally, its design has a protective "skirt" against falling splinters.

Special tool.

Features of unscrewing the bulb from a suspended ceiling

When the bulb in the suspended ceiling stops emitting light, it must be replaced. But the peculiarities of the design make the task a little more difficult, you even have to completely disassemble the light fixture.

Depending on the lamp installed, the replacement takes place as follows:

1. Incandescent elements. Here it is not difficult to cope, you need to knock out the automatic switch, unscrew the old bulb and screw in a new one instead.
2. Halogen and LED. In this situation, the task is more complicated. As with any work with electricity, the room is first de-energized. Then remove the protective cover and the ring from the lamp. If the bulb is too tightly seated in the socket, it can be loosened slightly.

Removing the protective glass.

Tip! When working with halogen lamps, it is better to use a cloth or gloves, because sebum from the skin has a bad effect on the operation of the device.

There are suspended ceilings, where a solid unit is installed, in which the bulb and lamp are components of the same structure. They do not provide for the replacement of one of the elements, you will have to change all together.

Read also

Features of replacing the light bulb of the fixture in a suspended ceiling

 

Safety rules for removing and replacing the bulb

Working with electricity is not safe, especially for someone with no experience. It is always possible to forget or do something wrong by mistake. Therefore, before unscrewing and and changing light bulbs the following rules should be followed:

1. It is necessary to de-energize the room. If you plan to use liquid rust dissolvers, it is best to de-energize and remove the luminaire beforehand.
2. All measuring and unscrewing tools must be within easy reach before proceeding.
3. Screwdrivers, pliers and other tools should have rubberized handles. Other materials are covered with duct tape.
   It is safer to use tools with rubberized handles.
4. When screwing in the bulbs, it is necessary that the new element is similar to the old and suitable for the lamp.
5. Perform the work must be carried out with rubber gloves and safety glasses.