Joys of Running a Small Business - Help on changing Office Strip Light!

10Yetis · Nov 20, 2008

Ah the joys of running a small business, you have to do everything... remember the good old days of calling the maintenance department?

The problem;

In our office we have what looks like mini strip light lights in the roof, covered by a metal shiny grid type "thing", pic below of said culprit.

A few have started flickering and the novelty disco effect has now worn off and people are getting twitchy.

I need to replace them but cannot work out how to get the old tube out and the new one in?

Any secret light knowledge people...

Oh yeah, and if anyone copies my dads handy tip which was - Do as the Chinese Proverb says; get everyone in the office to hold their hands in the air, as "Many Hands Make Light Work", will no longer be on our friend list.

LINGsCARS · Nov 20, 2008

You also have black hole next to it.

It is well known that light is sucked into a black hole. That is where the light is going.

Simon-M · Nov 20, 2008

The general business forum really is general business. Maybe it should be renamed to the DIY and Nervous People Forum

Simon

LINGsCARS · Nov 20, 2008

logoquality said:
The general business forum really is general business. Maybe it should be renamed to the DIY and Nervous People Forum

Simon

Hahahaha, a 16 year old will be along in a minute.

Real answer, rip out the shiny grid and twist the tubes 90deg and pull. They are wired in pairs, so if one goes, two will not work.

If you do it with power on the lights you will see this happening, and it makes it much easier to shock yourself.

Finish by jamming the shiny grid back in. Ignore the asbestos that will cascade down.

Copyright Ling's Handy Tips Ltd.

Successful Selling · Nov 20, 2008

I can feel a "How many entrepreneurs does it take to change a light bulb" joke coming on!

An Oasis · Nov 20, 2008

Have you done a risk assessment Andy?

An Oasis · Nov 20, 2008

On second thoughts, switch it off, go green.

Gillie · Nov 20, 2008

Give your friendly builder a ring and let him suck in his breath etc and then tell you you will need four skilled men etc!!

That or take a sledgehammer to the grill ... heck, I aint any help at all am I Andy!!!

Rhyl Lightworks · Nov 20, 2008

It should be fairly obvious how to move the grills away. Most you just push up slightly and slide them out of the way (you don't even need to take them down). The tubes are then taken out and replaced. Some turn through 90 degs. and come out, others have to be pushed to one side (the holders are on springs) and having got one side out the other follows easily. While you are at it, replace all the tubes (unless any have been fitted in the last year), as tubes deteroriate over time and new ones will give better light. Also replace the starters at the same time (unless yours have electronic starting, inwhich case they won't have starters). While you are at it get a vacuum cleaner and clean up any dust. I have never seen fittings of this type where the tubes are fitted in pairs - most, if not all, are fitted individually and only one tube goes at a time. (Some insect killers have the tubes fitted in pairs).

Barrie

10Yetis · Nov 20, 2008

Thanks to everyone for your words of wisdom!

Rhyl, great shout, not sure how they slide out as they are in a fixed fitting but I will go and "wiggle" them some more until something happens.

I figure that if I start with the ones by the IT peoples desk they will get so fed up of dead wasps and suchlike falling their PC's that they will have no option but to help.

Keep the comedy suggestions coming.

LINGsCARS · Nov 20, 2008

And cover up that black hole! Everything in your office will be attracted to it.

Changing a lightbulb is highly technical. Only do it balanced on a chair (rotating office chair with wheels is best), and make sure you drop the bulb immediately after you have removed it. Doing it while the bulb is hot (or touching the hot metal bits) adds interest and fun.

I disagree with replacing all the tubes and starters, that is a complete waste. You should only replace ones that need replacing. Replace everything only if you have a vested interest in selling lighting and other electrical products. (...Just as I say; why replace one car at a time? Replace all 10 as they wear out so easily and give better image when new!). As it is so easy to do this lighting stuff, you should only do what's necessary. Alternatively and seriously, you may consider leaving a tube (or two) off.

Simon-M · Nov 20, 2008

I blame Edison for all this faffing around. If only he could see you now risking life and limb so that you may better see your bottom line I doubt he would have gone to the trouble.

Rotate the lamp 90 degress and if by magic an opening will appear that allows you to slide out the offending light sabre.

LINGsCARS · Nov 20, 2008

logoquality said:
I blame Edison for all this faffing around. If only he could see you now risking life and limb so that you may better see your bottom line I doubt he would have gone to the trouble.

Rotate the lamp 90 degress and if by magic an opening will appear that allows you to slide out the offending light sabre.

If this is near the IT department, they will pick up the used tubes and begin to play star wars. Have a video camera handy, this always looks good on You Tube.

Simon-M · Nov 20, 2008

PS. I think we should merge the time out forum and the general business forum as they seem to contain the same type of threads. Can someone put up a survey in the pointless surveys forum and get this one put to bed.

Rhyl Lightworks · Nov 20, 2008

Forgot to say that if the grills do not lift up, it is almost certain that the adjacent polystyrene tiles will. You can then poke your head through and with a torch, see how the grills are fitted.

Barrie

Simon-M · Nov 20, 2008

Rhyl Lightworks said:
Forgot to say that if the grills do not lift up, it is almost certain that the adjacent polystyrene tiles will. You can then poke your head through and with a torch, see how the grills are fitted.

Barrie

He already has a black hole next to it. If he stands under that he won't need a ladder or anything as he will just be sucked up into it. As he is flying through the universe seeing stars before their birth he can whip out his ipod phone (bound to have an ipod phone - marketing and all that) and call his work mate. He can then tell his workmate where the fitting for the grill are.

Maybe I should get one of my team on this and we can do an instruction manual on this technique.

LINGsCARS · Nov 20, 2008

The only problem with black holes is that they are full of pesky 16-year olds.

Rhyl Lightworks · Nov 20, 2008

LINGsCARS said:
I disagree with replacing all the tubes and starters, that is a complete waste. You should only replace ones that need replacing. Replace everything only if you have a vested interest in selling lighting and other electrical products. (...Just as I say; why replace one car at a time? Replace all 10 as they wear out so easily and give better image when new!). As it is so easy to do this lighting stuff, you should only do what's necessary. Alternatively and seriously, you may consider leaving a tube (or two) off.

I have no interest in selling him anything Ling, I'm sure he will source these things locally, rather than come to me 100s of miles away. I am merely giving the benefit of a few years experience I have in this kind of thing. Compare the price of this kind of tube (about £2 to £3) and starter (about 65p) with the cost of his time in changing them frequently.
Barrie

An Oasis · Nov 20, 2008

How many PR people does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

PR Manager answer:

Two. One to screw in the lightbulb, one to write the press release.

LINGsCARS · Nov 20, 2008

Rhyl Lightworks said:
I have no interest in selling him anything Ling, I'm sure he will source these things locally, rather than come to me 100s of miles away. I am merely giving the benefit of a few years experience I have in this kind of thing. Compare the price of this kind of tube (about £2 to £3) and starter (about 65p) with the cost of his time in changing them frequently.
Barrie

Yeah, but there is more than £££s and ppps. What about the fun and exercise? What about the balancing on chairs bit?

Also there are environmental costs as these tubes have mercury and flourescent gas and trace radioactivity and all that horrid glass and the heavy metals.

Last month the government issued advice to stupid people who smashed energy saver bulbs and then sniffed it like cocaine. If 10 Yetis has a mercury vapour addiction problem, then your advice could be quite dangerous. Especially as the IT people will be playing at light sabres. Who can resist that?

Used fluorescent tubes are no fun at all, unless you smash them in a sabre fight.

Simon-M · Nov 20, 2008

Rhyl Lightworks said:
the cost of his time.
Barrie

Come on people let's get serious here. This is a business forum.

Everyone knows that time is relative and if he uses his black hole as already been pointed out to him, he would have had this done last week by tomorrow.

Simon

snipe12 · Nov 20, 2008

I laughed and thought what an idiot until I saw the light fitting. We used to have exactly the same fitting. I cannot remember how to remove them, all I remember is cutting myself on one of those damn metal reflector things. I suggest a hammer and a new light fitting.

LINGsCARS · Nov 20, 2008

snipe12 said:
I laughed and thought what an idiot until I saw the light fitting. We used to have exactly the same fitting. I cannot remember how to remove them, all I remember is cutting myself on one of those damn metal reflector things.

That could be nasty, you could come out in segments, like a fight with a giant dicer.

What I like is when you pull it out, it suddenly comes away at 90mph, you instinctively drop it and duck, shout "f**k" at top volume and it lands on someone's head. Everyone roars with laughter. Brightens the office day up no end.

Simon-M · Nov 20, 2008

snipe12 said:
all I remember is cutting myself on one of those damn metal reflector things.

That is the automatic self protection mechanism for the black hole. If you get too close the metal self protection thingy is liable to cut you.

When I was about 7 I got thrown across a room by sticking my fingers in an empty light socket. Perhaps the OP is missing an experience like that? If only he could figure out how to get the light socket expossed.

LINGsCARS · Nov 20, 2008

logoquality said:
That is the automatic self protection mechanism for the black hole. If you get too close the metal self protection thingy is liable to cut you.

When I was about 7 I got thrown across a room by sticking my fingers in an empty light socket. Perhaps the OP is missing an experience like that? If only he could figure out how to get the light socket expossed.

How many Yetis does it take to change a light bulb?

Careful with your answer, there are only 10 of them.

10Yetis · Nov 20, 2008

Wow! I never thought such an innocent post would get this volume of replies

At the min, the covering is off and hanging down from the ceiling from the Earth wire but I cannot get the frickin tube out.

@Rich from Oasis, great joke about PR people... smiles aplenty here.

Also loving the light sabre jousting reference.

Simon-M · Nov 20, 2008

Source : http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-install-a-fluorescent-lamp.htm

An Oasis · Nov 20, 2008

How many...

Brand communications answer:
Let's not focus on the people or bulbs. Let's own "light".

Rhyl Lightworks · Nov 20, 2008

Actually the place he buys new tubes from are under a legal obligation to take the old ones and dispose of them in an environmently friendly way (WEEE regulations).

I'm obviously missing a trick here, I didn't realise lighting could cause such mirth. I'll have to remember that in future advertising.

Barrie

sarahGarry · Nov 20, 2008

The basic problem with black holes that they are full of pesky 16-year olds.
Keep the comments

10Yetis · Nov 20, 2008

Great post Logo... thanks

10Yetis · Nov 20, 2008

UPDATE: I have given up! I need a real man to come and sort them.
Abuse from employees (and general lack of help for apparent Health and Safety reasons) has defeated me!

Thanks for eveyone's help, much appreciated.

LINGsCARS · Nov 20, 2008

10 Yetis said:
UPDATE: I have given up! I need a real man to come and sort them.
Abuse from employees (and general lack of help for apparent Health and Safety reasons) has defeated me!

Thanks for eveyone's help, much appreciated.

You could always write a release about it

10Yetis · Nov 20, 2008

LINGsCARS said:
You could always write a release about it

Ha ha ha ha ha, nice one

spigwell · Nov 20, 2008

Pah lights.

I bet you waste money on heating as well.

Your staff are just plain spoilt

Whatever happened to the humble candle? lighting and heating all in one.

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