Lightbulb broken and stuck

Oddsox

Was changing the lightbulb in the bathroom. After much fiddling the glass part of the lightbulb came away in my hand leaving the bottom of the lightbulb stuck in the fitting.

I put the shade back on ( a globe shaped screw on ones that fully covers the fitting )

What do I do now?

Firstly is it dangerous ? and secondly how do I get it out without electrocuting myself ?

By the way changing a lightbulb is just about the extent of my electrical knowledge.

Thanks in advance

cletus

Turn off the power at the trip switch.
Get a pair of pliers
Grip the edge of the remainder of the bulb with the pliers.

If it is a bayonet type bulb, push up slightly and rotate to remove.

If it is a screw in type bulb, unscrew (remember, righty tightly, lefty loosely)

Replace bulb, turn power back on at trip switch

PeterTheEighth

I've done the same. Here's what I did.

- Shut off the lights at the consumer unit.
- Ensure that the lights are off by checking other lights on the same circuit. I cant emphasize how important this step is, you need to be sure that the wires feeding the light are not live.
- Get a pliers to grab on to the remainder of the bulb and another pliers to hold on to the plastic that holds the bulb (the pendant).
- Hold the pendant still (but not excessively so that you break the plastic) while carefully trying to turn the remainder of the bulb.

Now can I just emphasize that this is what I did. I'm very comfortable working with electrical stuff, and I try to be extremely careful in everything that I do. But you need to decide yourself whether this is something you feel comfortable doing. And I dont mean that in a condescending way, I'd just hate for you to hurt yourself in attempting this..

Also have a look on youtube.. there's a couple of cool ways to do it, including one guy who does it with a potato!!!

colm_mcm

Shut off the whole house just in case.

Oddsox

Thanks for all the replies. We managed to get it out safely

johncal2009

First of all it is very dangerous to mess with electric, If you have a trip box installed in your house fine , you can isolate the bathroom electrics and carry on.
If not turn off all the electics to the whole house ( try other appliances to make sure its off) remove your lampshade, take out the remains of the light bulb with your hands or maybe long nosed pliers are the best

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( don't forget to reset electrical gadgets like clocks cookers etc after you've finished)

astrofool

turn power off, cut a potato in half, push the potato half onto the remainder of the bulb and un-screw (or push and turn for a bayonet)

foggy_lad

I turned the power off and got a dry tea towel and jammed it against the metal rim of the bulb holder and pressed up and turned and still alive to tell the tale.