How to Change Halogen Downlights
Halogen light fixtures provide bright illumination, and their bulbs outlast standard incandescent lights. Halogen downlights are often recessed into a ceiling and used for spotlighting or illuminating a particular area such as a kitchen counter, bathroom sink or table surface. Changing the bulb in a halogen downlight is similar to changing any light bulb, but extra care is needed when handling halogens. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Turn off the halogen downlight and give it plenty of time to cool off. Halogen lights operate at very high temperatures.
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2
Set the step ladder beneath the halogen downlight. Make sure the ladder is locked in position and secure before climbing up.
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3
Remove the metal spring from the downlight. Some halogen downlights have a round metal spring that holds the bulb in place. Grip the tabs on the spring with a pair of pliers and squeeze them together until it pops out.
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4
Put on the gloves or use a cloth to handle the bulb. Oil from fingers can cause a halogen light to break due to uneven heating of the surface.
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5
Push down on the old bulb and turn it counterclockwise until it pops out from the fixture. Some downlights have a plastic clip that hangs down from the center of the light on wires. You may need to pull the bulb directly out.
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Locate the three-letter code on the metal base of the halogen bulb. Match this code to a new bulb when shopping or take the old bulb with you to make sure you get an exact replacement.
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Open the container with the new bulb and handle it with gloves or with a cloth. Climb back up the step ladder. Push the new bulb into the fixture and turn it clockwise to secure it or push directly into the plastic bulb connector. Replace the spring clip if necessary by squeezing the tabs together and popping it back into place.
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Test the new bulb by turning on the light.
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Tips & Warnings
Double-check that the power to the light is turned off before removing the old bulb and replacing it with a new one.
References
- Photo Credit halogenlampe image by Ubi17 from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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Thanks so much—I was dreading changing the bulbs because I thought the globe stayed in place. It was laughably simple once I read this, except the globe was a total pain to snap back into place.
