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replacing MH bulbs

4K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  onefish2fish 
#1 ·
Hi all, extreme newb question here, hopefully there's a general/standard answer: how do you replace Metal Halide bulbs? In other words, how do you remove them from the socket? In my case, I have double-ended MH bulbs.

My fixture's user manual doesn't give any diagrams or details on how to remove them from the socket. I tried just pulling on them, but didn't want to use much force as I don't want to break it. Are there usually tabs you have to press, or something you have to do to get the socket to release the bulb? Or just pull on it until it snaps out?

Thanks all, any help is greatly appreciated!
 
#3 ·
yeah, I didn't pull hard because I didn't want to break my new fixture :). But its frustrating, they give absolutely NO direction on how to remove the bulbs, and it isn't obvious from looking at it how to open it :-?. And I'm a freaking engineer, it's not like I'm not mechanically-inclined usually :-D.

Anyways, I know as soon as I figure it out or someone tells me, I'll be super-embarassed that I couldn't see how to do it right away. But if the end result is me learning how to remove/replace my bulbs without breaking something, then it's worth it!

I may take a picture of the bulb/socket when I get home, hopefully it's standard and someone can tell me specifically what I have to pinch or press or snap or pull or whatever.
 
#5 ·
Alright, got some pics to help out, one with flash one without... someone tell me what the heck I'm supposed to do! The plastic pieces on each end that hold the bulb don't budge, you can see that the are screwed in underneath the bulb. But the bulb itself doesn't budge if I try to pull it out, so what the heck is left?

Automotive exterior Auto part Metal Automotive lighting Glass


Room
 
#7 ·
There are round knobs on each end of the bulb. These knobs sit inside a porcelain socket. The porcelain sockets have springs behind them. you should be able to push the bulb in towards one end, allowing the other end to exit it's socket. DO NOT TOUCH THE NEW BULBS (or old bulbs you plan to reuse later) as oils in your skin can cause problems for the life/spectrum of the bulb. I use a soft cloth to handle the bulbs.
 
#11 ·
Right on Steve and Kells (nice job with the simultaneous posts :p), thanks a million for the info! Works like a charm, I just did a test removal and re-insertion.

I don't need/want to replace my bulbs yet, but I wanted to go ahead and figure out how to service it up-front, so I'll be ready when I need to or want to! Though I do think I'm going to get a pair of Phoenix 14000K bulbs soon, I've read great reviews and I'm concerned that these 20000K bulbs might wash out the tank's colors with too much blue... we'll see though, I'm a fan of the actinic/blue look!

For the sake of others potentially reading, is this socket style standard for all double-ended Metal Halide bulbs?
 
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