downlighter spring confusion

[julianf]

I feel like im being incredibly stupid, but i still cant work it out.

Ive got a load of these -

2nd hand (given to me) and i cant work out the spring!


The long arm, i assume presses down on the top of the plasterboard in the void, essentially trying to "lift" the unit up into the ceiling.

But its not tensioned. Its just flopping about.

The only way to get tension in it would be to jam (secure) the small arm into the cut of the hole, but i have no idea how you would manage that on installation, and im sure that must be wrong anyway, as the side of cut plasterboard is weak.

Ive looked at them, tried to google them, etc. etc. and here i am, asking what, i hope, will be a right obvious answer to someone!

Thankyou!

 

[brightspark]

squeese the 2 large ones together push in hole and shove it up. the 2 small springs will push against the side of the hole and force the large springs down on to the top of the plasterboard and pull the fitting up . make sure the hole isnt to large on the sides or it wont work

 

[julianf]

squeese the 2 large ones together push in hole and shove it up. the 2 small springs will push against the side of the hole and force the large springs down on to the top of the plasterboard and pull the fitting up . make sure the hole isnt to large or it wont work

Thank you. That was the only way i could assume it would work. It must half destroy the plasterboard on insertion / removal, but i guess thats just how it is.

Thank you again.

 

[brightspark]

Thank you. That was the only way i could assume it would work. It must half destroy the plasterboard on insertion / removal, but i guess thats just how it is.

Thank you again.

its ok getting them in but will wreck the plasterboard pulling them back out just make sure you miss the beams with the conection overhang and the springs dont catch

 

[Agroshield]

What does 'second hand' mean? Have they previously been installed?

Have it in mind that it may be (a) they are faulty from new; (b) they have been mullered when removed.

When in a 'free-floating' state (i.e. in the box or in your hand) the springs should be nearly 180 degrees different to the picture. It should take effort on your part to make the springs do what the picture shows.

Buy the cheapest one you can SF and use it as a pattern to confirm those are functionally correct.

 

[brightspark]

What does 'second hand' mean? Have they previously been installed?

Have it in mind that it may be (a) they are faulty from new; (b) they have been mullered when removed.

When in a 'free-floating' state (i.e. in the box or in your hand) the springs should be nearly 180 degrees different to the picture. It should take effort on your part to make the springs do what the picture shows.

Buy the cheapest one you can SF and use it as a pattern to confirm those are functionally correct.

the springs are in the correct position just put a temp lead on them to ensure there all good

 

[MetalMonkey]

JCC?

If so I wouldn't bother fitting them, you'll be taking them back out soon enough...

 

[sparkysy]

JCC?

If so I wouldn't bother fitting them, you'll be taking them back out soon enough...

Definitely, I have pulled so many of those out due to failure, luckily not ones I have fitted.
DSES has just done a vid of those and their failures.

I don't fit integrated LED down lights due to lamps not being replaceable and the high failure rate regardless of the manufacturer

 

[julianf]

I have a box of them. Someone in the village was having some changes to their home and took them all out for some building work.

I probably have 20-off. I want to fit a single unit in an area with about 1sq mrt of plasterboard ceiling.


My points -

If it fails, I have 20 more.
If it stuffs the ceiling on repeated changing, which i could see happening, I guess I'd just replace it. I can live with that risk / eventuality.