I have purchased LEDs to replace the halogens in our ceiling puck lights. However, I cannot get most of the covers off - they do not budge. Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a special tool or technique that I am unaware of?
Royce not sure if yours are like mine (the plastic gold ones) and if so they rotate anti-clockwise a touch then fall off.
JohnH
Royce, try slipping a credit card or a thin spatula between the ceiling material and the trim ring. Go all around. Then try turning the trim ring to get them off. Many of mine seemed to be stuck to the ceiling vinyl. Patience helps.
Roger, Thanks. That worked! I never considered that the cover ring might be stuck to ceiling vinyl. This is why I appreciate the ForeForums. You can always get some help.
I have to warn the future owner of our coach.....
We have the original brass plated (unobtainable) plastic covers.
After 20 years the plastic is brittle enough that several have cracked when putting them back on.
The warning...
Since I have replaced the bulbs with LEDS. My expectation is that I won't have to replace them again.
This is the part of interest to the future owner.
Several have little dabs of silicon applied to keep the covers on. ???
I was able to order new plastic brass light trims for my 2000 U320 from FOT. But maybe you are talking about different light fixtures here because all of mine are under the upper cabinets.
If we are talking about the smaller lights under the cabinets, what LED bulbs did you order and from where?
Ken,
I have had pretty good luck with these.
Cool White
JRLED G4 3W 130lm 6500K 3-COB LED White Light Mini Spotlights - Silver +... (http://www.dx.com/p/jrled-g4-3w-130lm-6500k-3-cob-led-white-light-mini-spotlights-silver-beige-2-pcs-12v-340967#.VtrjDfBOKrV)
Warm White (my preference for indoors)
JRLED G4 3W 130lm 3000K 3-COB LED Warm White Light Mini Spotlights - Silver... (http://www.dx.com/p/jrled-g4-3w-130lm-3000k-3-cob-led-warm-white-light-mini-spotlights-silver-beige-2-pcs-12v-330552#.Vtrk6_BOKrU)
I think there are other brands of similar looking bulbs and some have reported less success. It is a good idea to order a few, try them out for a while and if they seem OK get more.
Ken,
Another option albeit a bit pricier.
I bought a collection LEDs from M4 Products around Christmas. So far I'm satisfied.
The one for the puck lights in my 97 U295 is:
Elite Series Retrofit LED to replace Small 10w G4 / T3 Halogen (http://www.m4products.com/g4-6-5630-side-nw-natural-white-elite-series-smallest-g4-t3-samsung-5630-leds-side-pins/)
Natural white was my preference of the three output choices they offered -- brighter and a bit better for my old eyes ;) .
I did need to remove the reflectors (pop right out) to make the installation easier. Their option with the thin pins might have worked without doing so.
Another option is to replace the fixture with the ones that FT is using now. At some point the brass trim rings will break and they are not generally available. I wanted to get brushed nickel trim rings but those plus an LED bulb was more expensive than a new fixture.
Amazon.com: ITC (69231B-3K-DB) 3" Radiance LED Overhead Light/Spring Mount:... (http://amazon.com/ITC-69231B-3K-DB-Radiance-Overhead-Spring/dp/B00ISLQX18/ref=pd_sim_263_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=31VKkyEhqVL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1RCX07VYTDTK38VDK67N)
They fit right into the existing hole. The spring clips make this easy. They are available for screw mounting for a couple bucks less.
Slightly above warm white Kelvin temp but not cool white. All glass lens.
Bill,
I am removing the reflectors, too, but "pop right out" is not a description I would have used. They are very heavy metal and appear to have two tabs on the bottom, but I could not get a pair of needlenose pliers to pull the tabs together. What is your secret?
Thanks,
Trent
Regarding the plastic covers on undercabinet lights I have removed them all and painted then with a texture spray that makes them not be so noticable as the OEM Brass colour. They came out good and as I have had the LED bulbs in for a few years they now will not get brittle with heat.
John H
I like the paint idea, John. I really never considered it. After I replaced all of mine the old fixtures quickly found new homes with other folks on the Forum.
Most have installed the small bulbs mentioned above without having to remove the reflector / heat sink. Try getting the bulbs in first before resorting to taking out the heat sink.
Trent,
I finally got all of mine off, removing the reflectors with a very large pair of needle nose pliers (about 10 inches long) before installing the wafer LEDs. Most of the time the tabs holding the reflector in would break off allowing the reflector to drop right out.
Royce
Trent,
I guess I was lucky. I just took a smallish flat blade screwdriver, slipped it over one tab and leveraged that tab out. Once one tab was out the reflector just fell out. Nothing broke off so I suspect that I could pop the reflectors back in, but have no reason to do so.
Regards,
Bill