I’ve had some experience changing light bulbs with a suction cup or a springed bulb snatcher on the end of a pole. The new light bulbs are aren’t designed to be changed that way. Only way to grab the bulb is by hand.
I have a stairway with the light bulbs about 15 feet above the highest landing. Ladders won’t fit, and there isn’t room for scaffolding. Can’t get a Genielift up the stairs. I only have one Pivit tool, so I don’t know if a pair would work. I do have a 12’ ladder. I don’t know if a Little Giant would work. Or any combinations…
Any suggestions? I may have to jerryrig a ladder somehow. Don’t tell my boss.
Am wondering how these pictures will work in here.
Vic
I have an Etore Bulb Changer kit, Chris. I bought it just for this project. The big one is too big, the little suction cup doesn’t touch enough glass and the grabbers need a ridge to grab around. They won’t work on the flat sides. The Unger set you sell is very similar.
The sticky fingers is for round bulbs, mine are long and flat. I’ll take a pic tonight.
Thank you, though. Have you ever seen a long handled grabber like they show old folks getting something out of the top shelf of a cupboard on tv ads? I don’t think they make 10’ longs, yet, but that’s kind of what I need, LOL.
how tall is it from either of the two large breaks in steps to the bulbs? it looks to me like a little giant might just work if you put the legs on each of those and shorten one side accordingly, assuming the lights are directly above it
the one I have is 19’ feet I believe, I can’t recall how tall it is as a step ladder but it looks like it would reach
The landing closest to the bulbs is 17’ 6" beneath the lamps. I used my new digital distance finder on it
That would have to be a real long LG to make a step ladder high enough. Plus I’m short…
Thank you, though, Taylon!
Vic
I’m afraid that won’t work. I took a picture of my grabber next to a similar bulb, and the grabber has two tongs that won’t line up with the 3 glass tubes in the bulb. I’m pretty sure that using the grabber will break the bulb.
I thank you.
Here’s a picture that should be worth more than 1k words…
Vic
They push in. I appreciate your trying to help, Bob.
I was looking at the situation more intensely and much more carefully than I ever have, last night/this morning.
I just may be able to sneak our old Genie Lift in the middle of the stairway, from the First floor up. I believe the Genie will go 25’, so I’m going to request it this morning and see if my boss will approve. You can tell by the pictures that it is actually fairly dim and is a safety issue.
Thanks again, you guys!
Vic
Well said. They get brittle, too. I know the burned out bulbs are at least 4 years old.
I don’t know if I can get the Genie lift close enough as there is a counter that will stop it a couple feet short. I’m hoping I can reach at least one light from the cage. The other one may have to SAFE UP with something and do when I have help, like our security guy, in case something goes wrong. I’m used to working alone…
It looks like the fixtures are recessed ones. Can you get to them from the attic and take the socket cup off the reflector to change the bulb and then reassemble. Usually recessed fixtures come in 2 parts that are snapped together.
Chris,
For changing this type of bulb, the tongs need to be longer. The glass tube parts are about 5" long. We might have a chance if we could connect with the base of the bulb, and not the glass.
Vic
Thanks for your input, but you’re going a little over my head. There is no attic, just the bottom of the 3rd Floor (it’s a 4 story building). This light is not recessed, but it is in the middle of two sound reducing fancy architectural whatsits. Our electrician got it with our Genie lift. Got one light anyway. I asked my boss why don’t we build or buy a 4’ x 4’ x 2’ platform to place on the first landing. Then we can use our 12’ step ladder on it and the 2nd landing. It wouldn’t be hard to move or store and we wouldn’t have to have our guys bring the Genie lift all the way over from our main campus in the future.
Our electrician replaced the 26w with a 33w, and it is quite a bit brighter. Don’t know how long it will last, but it helped light the dim stairwell, anyway!
