Recessed spot lights won't push in

[andrew_t5.1]

Gooood morning all,

I have just wired up my recessed spotlights from rayne automotive and are working fine but i can't seem to get them pushed into place.
The hole is 58mm in the pop top frame and the thickness of material is less than 3mm with carpet.

It looks like the spring tabs are too long to fit up into the hole then spring out.

Has anyone else dealt with this problem before?

Thanks
Andrew

 

[Mud Digger]

yes having the same problem and broke 2 bending the tab up high enough to push in i even filled out extra space for them after i cut the holes. i do need to drop my ceiling to run a cable and fit 2 more lamps and replace the broken 2 so have access to secure them properly .

 

[Eclipse Custom Vans]

you may need to bend the clips or scollop out the rear of the ply wood where the clips go so they fit correctly.
Rgds,
Ian

 

[andrew_t5.1]

yes having the same problem and broke 2 bending the tab up high enough to push in i even filled out extra space for them after i cut the holes. i do need to drop my ceiling to run a cable and fit 2 more lamps and replace the broken 2 so have access to secure them properly .

I am going to try and trim one of the tabs to see if that gives enough clearance to push them in.
Pretty poor design if you ask me. I have installed spot lights in a home before and the tabs are actual springs on those to bend up out of the way.

 

[andrew_t5.1]

you may need to bend the clips or scollop out the rear of the ply wood where the clips go so they fit correctly.
Rgds,
Ian

Yeah will try bending or trimming them. Its going into the steel panel under the pop top frame so will be a bit of a pain altering the holes with wires ran across them and everything carpeted

 

[Eclipse Custom Vans]

Yeah will try bending or trimming them. Its going into the steel panel under the pop top frame so will be a bit of a pain altering the holes with wires ran across them and everything carpeted

ok, scollop only works with wood. They may be designed to work in thicker material creating a friction fit. I would check with say a 6mm or 12mm ply, and if they fit ok, you may need to glue wood inside the hole to replicate thicker material. We have needed to fit 6mm ply rings to teh rear of the metal panels to make some lights work. Good luck

 

[Mud Digger]

Thanks @Eclipse Campers s its the tabs are so long they wont push up above the wood wider than the lamp flange are to long even hooking the first one in the hole cant get the 2nd up inside

think it needs a slightly bigger hole then level the lamp in the hole. we're cutting the holes to the size of the lamp body . so no sideways movement .

i used a dab of glue gun to just help hold but it melts when the lamps are left on a while thees enough tension on the tabs once they against the ply even at 3mm i filed out gaps for them to push up once in you can turn the lamp

 

[Eclipse Custom Vans]

Thanks @Eclipse Campers s its the tabs are so long they wont push up above the wood wider than the lamp flange are to long even hooking the first one in the hole cant get the 2nd up inside

think it needs a slightly bigger hole then level the lamp in the hole. we're cutting the holes to the size of the lamp body . so no sideways movement .

i used a dab of glue gun to just help hold but it melts when the lamps are left on a while thees enough tension on the tabs once they against the ply even at 3mm

the instructions should have indicated the cut out diameter, it is never the exact sise of the lamp body, always slightly larger, if the tabs are tight, just file the metal roof frame where the tabs are to allow the tabs to go in. We always test new lights in s ‘test’ piece of representative material to check fitment first.

Cheers,

Ian

 

[Mud Digger]

the instructions should have indicated the cut out diameter, it is never the exact sise of the lamp body, always slightly larger, if the tabs are tight, just file the metal roof frame where the tabs are to allow the tabs to go in. We always test new lights in s ‘test’ piece of representative material to check fitment first.

Cheers,

Ian

Yep i learnt that now and no size instructions on the box .. and although i was in a underground car park ( luckily ) it was snowing out side with a Gail force wind blowing through the car park it was late afternoon after working on the van all day then started fitting the lights into the ceiling boards
and i filed out where the tabs go

had i been in a warm heated workshop ... i too might of tried a a test piece ha ha ha ....... but Now there's a link in here to help the others taking on the job.......... like most will i just measured the lamp to the hole cutter lol.

PS... even if there was instructions probably wouldn't of read them ha ha ha

 

[Eclipse Custom Vans]

Glad you are sorted