How do I.... Change a lightbulb?

[Office_Shredder]

TL;DR

I have a weird light socket in my house, someone help!

I attached a picture. I bought my house in February and one room has these lights inset into the ceiling. The whole fixture can kind of jiggle around with the light in it. How am I supposed to remove the bulb? It doesn't obviously unscrew or anything. Do I need to remove the whole fixture?

 

[DaveC426913]

This should give you the idea.

Skip to 13:50:



You should be able to gently push and twist the disc counterclockwise and it should fall out so that you can get at the connector pins.

 

[berkeman]

What does the fixture look like from the attic?

 

[DaveC426913]

What does the fixture look like from the attic?

It wouldn't surprise me if it were a dropped ceiling.

 

[Keith_McClary]

It looks like a MR16:
https://www.google.com/search?q=mr16+spotlight+bulb&client=ubuntu&hs=Ffw&source=lnms&tbm=isch

Most MR16 lamps are operated using voltages lower than 120 volts, typically 12 volts. Some MR16 lamps, however, operate using 6 or 24 volts.

Available in LED. (If you're buying halogen, note that some do/don't have a glass plate on the front.)
EDIT:

It is important to keep in mind that some power supplies require a minimum load of 20 or 30 watts. LED light bulbs generally have extremely low wattage, like 3 watts each. Therefore, consider replacing your current power supply with one designed for LED lighting.
https://www.superiorlighting.com/blog/can-you-replace-your-mr16-halogen-bulbs-with-mr16-led-bulbs/

 

[Office_Shredder]

Yeah, there's no attic. This is on the top floor of a town house. It is a dropped ceiling, with the actual roof right above.

Dave, thanks for the video, I'll try it out.

Definitely going to replace with an led if I can, I want to replace light bulbs as little as possible (there are a million of them in this place!) and my understanding is leds last a lot longer.

 

[russ_watters]

The whole fixture can kind of jiggle around with the light in it. How am I supposed to remove the bulb? It doesn't obviously unscrew or anything. Do I need to remove the whole fixture?

I think there is a good chance the central part of the fixture is just a gard or is a can held in by friction clips. With a gentle tug, it may slide out.

 

[Vanadium 50]

If you push the reflector straight up, does it move or yield? If it stays fixed, try rotating while turning.

And, in honor of another thread...

Light bulb will not change.
The socket will not give way
Use explosive bolts

 

[anorlunda]

Use explosive bolts

LOL, that is more fun as a general purpose answer to all questions than 42.

 

[Office_Shredder]

Success! It's a gu10. The correct answer was to just pull down on only the inner ring, and it was held in by friction.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Keith_McClary]

That only took seven physicists.

This lamp has the bulb pins secured by set screws (so you can't just pull it out), which also make electrical contact with the painted metal supporting wires!