On Sat, 17 Sep 2005 21:07:47 +0000 (UTC), kj
wrote:




I was doing a routine lightbulb replacement in the recessed ceiling
fixture in my entrance hallway when the top of the bulb sheared
off cleanly from the threaded metal part. Great.

I yanked off the bulb, but now the metal part is stuck in there,
so I have a useless fixture. This would be a pain under any
circumstance, but the fact that the socket is recessed makes it
impossible to stick a pair of pliers in there to attempt to unscrew
the metal part.

The housing for the fixture is attached to the socket, so even if
I managed to pry it out, I still would not be able to access the
socket with pliers. I suppose I will have to pull the housing out,
cut the wire, and replace it with a new housing, splicing the wire
coming off the new housing into the cut end.

Am I on the right track here? If so, what do I have to do to remove
the housing. After working at it for a while I didn't get very
far at all. One would think that one has to rip the ceiling to
get that housing out, but I can't believe the system would be that
stupid.

How does one fix a situation like this, without ripping out a big
chunk of ceiling?

Thanks!

kj

Turn off the power at the breaker. Then turn it off again. Get
yourself a long fat carrot. If part of the old filament is still
sticking up from the socket, cut a notch in the end of the carrot to
clear it. Jam the carrot into the socket and unscrew it. Potato works
even better, but probably isn't long enough.

If that doesnt work, just take a long screwdriver, slide it between
the bulb base and socket, and twist. Do this in several places until
the bulb base is crumpled enough to fall out.

HTH,

Paul