How To Remove Coralife Straight Pin Bulb?

[atmmachine816]

How do I go about removing a cp fluorescent coralife straight pin bulb from a cp fluorescent fixture? One of my bulbs in my dual fixture is flashing on and off and I can't seem to fix it so I must replace the bulb but I'm not sure how to remove the bulb. I notice that there are two philip screws, do I need to remove these before pulling the black part from the bulb?

thanks

 

[SkiFletch]

I'm not familiar with that fixture exactly but 95% of the time the endcap just clips on or squeezes on to the bulb. Sometimes there's rubber hooks that grip tabs on the bulb, and sometimes plastic hooks, but I've never seen a PC fixture with screws holding the endcaps on the bulb.

Are you sure they're straight-pin? I thought coralife used all square-pin setups

 

[atmmachine816]

Thanks for the reply Ski. I have this fixture [URL="http/www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idP...ct~ES53124.html"]http/www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idP...ct~ES53124.html[/URL] which I do believe is straight pin. It has four pins that are all horizontal of each other, none above each other. I'm afraid if I just pull the bulb out it might break since it does not come out easy though am I supposed to do this?

Just realized that marinedepot does not have the replacement bulbs I need listed on their website.

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, straight pin bulbs are hard to find here in the States. What wattage is it? That link didn't work for me

 

[angelfishman]

http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/pet_...=3578+3733+8068
they seem to offer a lot of straight pin bulbs

 

[SkiFletch]

[URL="http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/pet_...=3578+3733+8068"]http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/pet_...=3578+3733+8068[/URL]
they seem to offer a lot of straight pin bulbs

Huh, appears they do in the smaller sizes

 

[atmmachine816]

They are 18w bulbs

http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...mp;pcatid=13733

I have the 12" fixture. I tried just pulling the bulb out but it won't come out.

Thanks angelfishman I may order some through drs. foster and smith if I can get this bulb out.

 

[SkiFletch]

oh, the 18watter is a bear. You might need to use pliers to get it out, cause they stick sometimes. you have to kind of wiggle it from side to side and eventually it'll come out.

Edit; don't do it over your tank, cause in case you break a bulb, make sure you clean up any glass shards and dont go inhaling the dust that comes out (mercury's bad for you )

 

[atmmachine816]

ok thank ski, I used some pliers and was finally able to get it out. One last question, is it ok to run the fixture with one bulb in and one socket with no bulb in it until I can get a replacement bulb?

thanks

 

[SkiFletch]

ok thank ski, I used some pliers and was finally able to get it out. One last question, is it ok to run the fixture with one bulb in and one socket with no bulb in it until I can get a replacement bulb?

thanks

Most likely yes. These fixtures often have two ballasts, two sockets, and two bulbs. I can't be completely certain, but if I were a betting man I'd say go for it.

 

[chrissaysyes]

Just dont get any water or anything around there to muck it up