h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Specifically, this one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardhealy450d/7800160692/

It's the one in the bathroom in my flat - it popped last week and I've studied it and not got the first clue how to open it up.

I figure it has something to do with those clips:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardhealy450d/7800162924/

Also, force of habit, I've pulled the chord a couple of times upon entering, and while I think it's off, I can't be certain, so I'd like to accomplish this without killing myself.

So, Community, I turn to you for help.

what do you think is step 1?

Ring an electrician.

Switch off the fuse to that part of the house before you start (or all of the house, if your circuit board isn't labelled).

I agree it's go to be those clips; get them off and see what's underneath. It's probably a ring light bulb, so you should be able to get a replacement. Just take it along with you when you go to B&Q or where ever, and get the same thing.

If all else fails, an electrician will do the job too, I agree. Electrickery is scary stuff.

If you turn the electricity off at the mains, and assuming your electricity isn't a landlord bodge job, then I think you have nothing to lose by having a go yourself. One of those electrickery detecting screwdrivers is also an option at about two quid these days.

sprout

Yeah, you should be able to fiddle around with the cover/shade without dying. If one of those clips doesn't rotate then they might be flexible or open directly out. It could be that just one of them moves to release the glass. Once there, you'll be fine. It's probably just a plug in ring one as previously said. Good luck!

Turn of the electric at the fuse box. It's just a precaution because unless you actually stick your fingers in the socket when you take the bulb out, you should be fine.

Those look like peel back clips, you should be able to just prise them out and remove the shade. It can be a bit fiddly, but you should be fine. Getting the shade back on is the tricky part

At a guess, I'd say those clips work like this: they form a "V" shape. With a pair of long nose pliers, squeeze the two upper ends of the "V" closer together. The serifs on the top of the V are located in the slot. Squeezing the tips together will allow the V to drop out. You'll probably only need to do one of them. The shade will come off, and underneath you'll probably find a conventional light fitting.

You don't need to switch off the electricity to remove the shade, unless you're worried the entire fitting might be live (highly unlikely).

Good luck.

Risk assessment takes account of impact as well as probability. Electrocuting yourself is high impact, so this is medium-to-high risk. Kill the power first. You never know - it may not be the bulb that's blown, it could be a loose wire on an unearthed fitting which is making it fail, however unlikely that seems.

If there's a blue flash and a loud BANG... It's still live

A) Call 999 and request emergency.
Alternately
B) rotate / remove clips, remove cover, replace light bulb / ring etc.

Don't think I've ever switched the electricity off to change a light bulb, just switch off the light switch or in your case with an ambiguous pull-cord, find the fuse responsible. Calling an electrician seems to be bordering on absurd (£50-100ish including call-out charge to change a bulb?) What if another one goes straight afterwards? To be honest, money grabbing as many tradesmen are, I also think you'd have difficulty getting one to attend such a minuscule job.

As stated above, unless you stick your fingers in the live socket once the bulb has been removed, you have a far higher chance of injury from falling off the ladder. You can even change bulbs with the leccy on. I just don't like doing it because the sudden bright light in my eyes is uncomfortable, and it's recommended not to do this because of the risk of damaging the bulb from partial connections.

I didn't hear of the story of someone calling for electrician to change a light bulb. They ended up having the house completely rewired, and their boiler replaced.

That would certainly be the outcome I would expect.

"Sir what cowboy did your electrics here? I might have to condemn this as unsafe. Let me see, new consumer unit, rewire, risk assessment forms...£££££££....."

Not that I have a deep-seated distrust of tradespeople or anything

Don't ring an electrician to change a lightbulb. Man up.

But I agree that popping the fuses off (RCDs, more accurately, unless you've had no maintenance done in the last 20 years) is a reasonable precaution.

I think those clips will just pop out when levered with a small screwdriver.

B

Man oh man, Clive, if you had to do what I had to do last week...


I had to change a fried plug socket, fortunately only the faceplate, and I was being supervised by a proper 'sparks', but nevertheless.

As has been said, turn off the power to it if you're worried. The light fitting is like my old one and they do just come straight off if gripped with long-nose pliers, or a screwdriver, just be sure you put your hand underneath the glass

I did actually call an electrician to change a light bulb once!

1. I was in Luxembourg so wasn't too sure about their different voltages, fittings etc
2. The light bulb itself had actually shattered so I could see how to remove it, and
3. If something had caused a bulb to shatter then I wasn't taking any chances.

This is some sort of joke, isn't it? How many hootooers does it take to....

Best way to remove a shattered bulb?

Cut a potato in half and skewer it with the broken edges. Twist, and hey presto.

Works with apples as well. Probably.

B

Excellent tip, thanks! (That should of course have been COULDN'T see how...)

Yup, used that meself, Mu.

Yeah potatos/apples are useful - but make doubly sure the power is off, eh?