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The Bakelite Ceiling Light Fitting: Modification for Energy Saving Bulbs.
The old fashioned bakelite ceiling light fitting is usually too long to accept Compact Fluorescent energy saving bulbs. Our home was built in the 1960s and so the light fittings are this old variety. While these work fine for incandescent globes they are too long to allow the wide body of the CF bulbs to fit and connect properly to the contacts. This picture to the right shows the fitting in question.
To overcome this problem I took to the fitting with a pair of needle nose pliers. Of course, I made sure the light was switched OFF first. I prised away small pieces of the bakelite fitting, making sure to hold it firmly while I did so. This was to make sure the fitting did not crack at the base or split while I was working on it.I kept chipping away at it until I was able to insert the CF bulb successfully. I had to remove just over one centimetre of the fitting before the bulb could be installed. I made sure to place a sheet on the floor under the ceiling light fitting so that small pieces of bakelite would not get wedged in the carpet.
The Compact Fluorescent energy saving bulb was then inserted into the fitting. While the receptacle looks rough, it is inside the light cover and so hidden from view. This method has not only been a cost saver in our house both for being able to use CF bulbs and not needing to replace the light fittings, but it has also been an almost-zero waste exercise with just a few small pieces of bakelite ending up in the bin.PLEASE TAKE CARE that the light is switched OFF before you do anything to a light fitting. |
