Halogen Maddness!!

[telectrix]

maybe they're those horrible fittings that have the weird springs like bat wings that rip the ceiling to bits when you try and remove them. if the OP poated his location, a member should be close to him to call and have a look at it

 

[Billybalata]

Cheers.......this along the lines of what i a thinking(or at least hoping) that its a lamp holder..........and yes they are under loft insulation.

 

[Billybalata]

Yes its those nasty batwing type spring clips.........i am in Dundee oi Scotland by the way and would welcome a quote.

 

[Billybalata]

Have managed to remove the lamp that is under the loft floor along with a good bit of the plasterboard that was obviously heat damaged...........wow!!!! to say the whole thing is burnt to a crisp is a massive understatement..........lamp holder is brown.......terminal block is browner still and all 4 wires are completely bare of insulation all black as night and i suspect shorting each other out.
There is plenty spare cable so i could repair with a new lamp holder but this will only be storing up a problem for us or the next owners,its obviously just to hot under the extra loft flooring

We dont even use them much as we usually just use the 2 bedroom table lights though the last owners may have used them more.

Guess its time to remove them and replace with a centre light but i will have to lift the loft floor first to get at all the cabling..........missus will of course want all this done by yesterday.

Time to call in a good plasterer(groan)..........if he/she is great then they may be able to patch the 4 holes near invisibly.........but i suspect a complete skim of the ceiling will be needed

Next problem is to figure out how many more spots are stuck under the loft floor and have a look at them.

Thanks for all the help guys.

P.S.....a special thanks to PAUL.M..........you had it spot on mate(if you will pardon the pun!!)

 

[telectrix]

replace damaged fittings, clear insulation from around fittings, then relamp with GU10 LEDs. overheating problem solved.

 

[Billybalata]

Telectrix..............believe it or not as i was sitting here contemplating the easiest form of suicide that very thought had just occurred to me...........i have already started replacing the old GU10,s but as there are over 20 its an expensive job.

A quick look has shown me there are 4 more under the loft flooring in the hall and other bedrooms but this is without doubt the best solution............i hope these ones come out without taking so much plasterboard with them.

P.S..........not sure how to hit the thanks button so i would just like to than all of you who replied.

 

[Billybalata]

Well..........no joy.........removed the burnt cable and lamp fitting.........srtripped back a good foot of cable and wired into a new terminal block to complete the ring and act as an open circuit lamp...........turned the breaker on and hey presto exactly the same problem.

Guess its possible that even though the lamp holder and wiring was frazzled it was still working and the fault is a shorted cable elsewhere.

Well i guess its time to call a sparky in or remove the spots completely and fit a new centre light

 

[telectrix]

good luck with it. post your location and a member may be close. and the thanks button is at the bottom left of the post.

 

[Billybalata]

Next door have given us the number of a good qualified sparky.........will post after he has done the biz

 

[overskilled]

Billy if he falls through.
Give me a shout
I live in Kirrie and work in Dundee quite frequently, I can also give you the number of a plasterer if you need one?

 

[Billybalata]

Will do mate cheers