Help: tried to remove shade from light hanging down from ceiling, made an error.

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Help: tried to remove shade from light hanging down from ceiling, made an error.

Wakrak

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#295800 24-Apr-2022 12:28

We have this kina looking light-shade in the spare room and my partner isn't a fan of it so asked if I could remove it. Classic me watched a YouTube video on how to remove it and went ahead with the job.

Half of the metal piece in image 1 goes into the socket while the other half goes into the white plastic seen in image 2. I guess the wiring snapped while unscrewing the socket from the metal piece. Now I have no idea what to do.

The other room

robjg63

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#2906045 24-Apr-2022 13:02

So in the second photo, that plastic cup that fits against the ceiling lets you pull it down shows a regular bayonet cap socket as in the third photo?

Just remove the bit with the broken cord by pushing up and twisting the bit in the socket - that will just leave a plain bayonet cap socket in the cealing.

You could plug a bulb in if you want - but you wont want to leave the damaged wire hanging out.

You have switched of the power or pulled the appropriate fuse first havent you?

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

robjg63

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#2906046 24-Apr-2022 13:10

You need something like this to replace the hanging bit:

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/brilliant-d-i-y-pendant-light-suspension-kit-white_p7070172

I cant see if that one has the socket to go into your batten holder on the ceiling though...

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Wakrak

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#2906048 24-Apr-2022 13:15

robjg63:

You need something like this to replace the hanging bit:

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/brilliant-d-i-y-pendant-light-suspension-kit-white_p7070172

I cant see if that one has the socket to go into your batten holder on the ceiling though...

Thanks for the advice so far mate. Yes power is off in that room. I'll remove that wiring now and see how I go with the lightbulb straight in to the socket.

gbwelly

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#2906154 24-Apr-2022 17:13

I'm just cracking up at how badly that went... especially as it turned out you could have just unplugged it :)

Daynger

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#2906296 25-Apr-2022 11:25

TBH youtube is not the place to learn how to electrician.

With your failure on such a basic task i would suggest you dont try any more as you might hurt yourself or someone you care about.

While the homeowner is allowed to do some electrical work in their own home there is a huge caveat, the word competent, as spelled out in the legislation.

Ironically most people get the word mixed up with confident and dont realise they are in fact not competent until they have everything apart and are lost.

Electricity, you cant see it coming and it always sucks.

1024kb

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#2906437 25-Apr-2022 13:58

Bro, is she home already? Just leave. Boot it. Block her number too. Nothing good is going to come from this.

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gzt

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#2906484 25-Apr-2022 14:14

Wakrak: Thanks for the advice so far mate. Yes power is off in that room. I'll remove that wiring now and see how I go with the lightbulb straight in to the socket.

That's the way to go, safe as.

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gzt

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#2906486 25-Apr-2022 14:20

The cord on the hanging lamp looks odd to me. I don't recall seeing standard cable like that for a long time.

In any case, you may be able to walk into a lighting shop today and get a plug/socket/cable exactly the same length and use that with a new shade, if you still want a hanging lamp.

Wakrak

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#2906556 25-Apr-2022 17:14

gbwelly:

I'm just cracking up at how badly that went... especially as it turned out you could have just unplugged it :)

😄 yeah bit of a bummer eh but all good now. Much better with the lightbulb plugged straight into the socket on the ceiling. The kina didn't help illuminate the room.

Wakrak

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#2906558 25-Apr-2022 17:16

Daynger:

TBH youtube is not the place to learn how to electrician.

With your failure on such a basic task i would suggest you dont try any more as you might hurt yourself or someone you care about.

While the homeowner is allowed to do some electrical work in their own home there is a huge caveat, the word competent, as spelled out in the legislation.

Ironically most people get the word mixed up with confident and dont realise they are in fact not competent until they have everything apart and are lost.

Electricity, you cant see it coming and it always sucks.

Yep lesson learned. I thought it was going to be a straight forward process of unscrewing one end, removing the shade, and reattaching.

Wakrak

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#2906559 25-Apr-2022 17:24

gzt: The cord on the hanging lamp looks odd to me. I don't recall seeing standard cable like that for a long time.

In any case, you may be able to walk into a lighting shop today and get a plug/socket/cable exactly the same length and use that with a new shade, if you still want a hanging lamp.

I ended up getting the suspension kit robjg63 linked above but I didn't realise how long it was until I connected it. Would be headbutting the light every time I walked across the room 😄

Here's a close up of the cable (somewhat decent image).