light-fixturelighting
I recently moved into a new place and I was able to pull off the glass enclosure attached to this light fixture:
However, when I pulled it off a second time, the enclosure shattered in my hands from the pressure of pulling. I've tried searching for light fixtures but it's almost impossible to find one that attaches in the same way as this one does. How can I find a replacement? Also interested in knowing how to take the enclosure off again in the future without shattering it.
I found a solution.
The first photo below shows the light fixture removed from the monorail, but fully assembled. The second photo shows the shade and bulb removed. Also, the fixture has been unscrewed from the mounting bracket.
I used an ohm meter to check continuity on the fixture, and decided there was an intermittent connection between the lighting fixture and the mounting bracket (the two pieces that are unscrewed). Screwing the two pieces together is supposed to make a solid connection such that the circular top of the fixture (the area right above the black band) touches a conductive area inside the mounting bracket. The connection between these two spots has become loose over the years (I don’t know why).
I took some thin sheet metal (actually the bottom of a can of mixed nuts) and cut out three circles the diameter of the top of the fixture. I carefully stacked the three pieces of metal on top of the area (above the black band) and screwed the two pieces together. The electrical connection is now tight, and the light has been working perfectly for the past three weeks.
[UPDATE 3/12/15: As requested, here are more images and notes. If you use the metal from a can, you should probably sand it to remove any clear coat on the metal. I used heavy duty scissors to cut the metal. The metal discs are cut slightly smaller than the diameter of the post they sit on top of. I think you have to prevent the discs from touching the sides of the light when you screw on the top piece (to prevent a short). Also, the light stopped working again after about 8 months. So I made a second fix where there was a loose connection on the side of the light. I cut out a crescent-shaped piece of of metal (shown by itself in the next-to-last photo) and shoved the shim into the loose joint (final photo). I might trim up the crescent shim when I have time. The light has been running fine since this second fix.]
You have three possibilities, not counting replacing the fixture and or striking out. I've been dealing with lighting manufactures for over 25 years and it is surprising how little information they put on their fixtures. It's probably that way to keep out of lawsuits in case of something failing.
If you are lucky like me and live in a track house, remember the electrical went to the lowest bidder and cheap fixtures and manufacturers come and go.
The third sounds the most fun, but the 1st is the most practical and you can have a new fixture just by changing the shades. Getting shades shipped is hit or miss on getting it not broken, and postal, UPS or Fedex or ??? does not insure glass. Also if you do find it on the internet, there is always the possibility that the design or neck has been modernized and will not match or fit what you have.
Best Answer
Firstly you could take the fixture down, examine all markings and google search any words or numbers you find on them.
If that doesn't work, and you have a picture of it or can take one of another similar fixture, you could use TinEye to find a similar photo and hope that it's on a product listing page.
Replacing a light fixture however, is pretty easy. I recommend buying spare globes for any glass fixtures and keeping them in a safe place.