Aargh please help me change this light bulb! (Yes, really!)

[AccidentallyFabulous]

I need to change a bulb in a ceiling downlighter in a bathroom. I've twisted the white ring off which I thought would get me to the bulb but there seems to be another ring I need to move to get the bulb out and I can't get it to shift.

There is a black sort of rubbery cover with CW on one side of it and CW on the other; when I move the rubber bit there seems to be a tiny switch but I have no idea what that's about.

There's no spring clip or similar so I am assuming it's a twist but I cannot get it to shift and I don't want to force it in case I'm missing something and break it!

Any ideas?

I’m afraid I can offer nothing but sympathy I have previously had to call an electrician to change a bulb in a downlighter for me
try looking online tho there are YouTube videos for most of these things

It probably needs pulling out - do you somewhere have a little black suction pad - you push it onto the face of the bulb then pull

YouTube got me to this point but has been no further help so far.

I've managed to pull the unit down from the ceiling enough to find a model number and Google seems to indicate this might be a sealed unit and I have to replace the whole thing as the bulb can't be changed.

Surely that can't be right?!

Do you pop it out using a small flathead screwdriver in those little notches?

I have no idea but I'd be really narked off if the whole unit needs replacing! What waste!

I've got a feeling it might be right, I've just had spotlights installed and I vaguely remember my electrician saying that the whole unit would need to be replaced but I wouldn't have to do it for years.

Oooh I feel your pain.

I had an issue with a bathroom light fitting, turned out the bulb was a big flat tube and a bugger to get out.

If it makes you feel any better I recently tried to take down a fire alarm in our new house, it was a bit stiff so gave it a good tug, turns out it's wired in so now is hanging lopsidedly from the ceiling and I need an electrician to change it.

Yes replacing the whole unit is now a thing sadly

I’m pretty sure my kitchen lights are like this. Whole unit would need to be changed.

That rings a vague bell but they've been there less than five years! Two out of the three in the bathroom need replacing.

We had this bathroom done by a guy who has done loads of work in this house and we really like and trust him. However I am starting to think (for this and other reasons) that the electrician he used for the electrical bits on this job was not great.

And I can't even blame the previous owners of this house who are my usual scapegoats for this sort of issue....

Normal downlights you need to get a downlight removal tool. It's a sucker with a plastic handle that you can twist them out with.

Ones in Bathrooms can be IP 65 rated. This means they are sealed, because spraying water into a downlight with say a shower head wouldn't be a good idea at all and might kill you.

Mine come off just by twisting the fitting and there is a rubber seal between the twist off bit and the light housing itself.

There are lots of different fitting types for the IP 65 rated fittings so it's hard for anyone to tell you exactly how to remove it unless they have the same fitting. Never heard of fully sealed ones, but I guess they could exist.

Had similar issue this week & had to have entire unit replaced so can’t advise on diying it.

Can however advise if going for led as replacement go low wattage or stock up on cleaning products & sunglasses.

Have been researching light diffusing film & seriously considering candles again ever since.

Google image search suggests a JCC V50. An integrated unit so whole thing will need to be replaced. Held in place by a couple of springs on the side so may be difficult to remove. The switch just changed the colour from warm white to cool white.