There is a ceiling light fixture in a rental that I am refurbishing that has me stumped. It has 4 flourescent tubes in it and a wooden frame with stained glass panels near the ends and a central transluscent lens. I am sure it must open up to replace the tubes but I can’t figure out how. It will move up to the ceiling about 1/2″. It will move end to end about that much too. Sideways it will move about 1/4″. But there must be some trick to open it up. 
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Replies
fid
Is there any way the bottom frame that holds the panels unsnaps, slides off or can be unclipped reaching above the frame and into the box?
Push it up to the ceiling, and over to one side or the other. It should release from the side pushed away from the fixture. Lower that side about 4", then slide it to the the other side and it should be free.
Look for a screw on one end.
I've got 2 similar ones that have a screw on one end.
Still stumped
I have tried all of these things suggested so far. I am hoping someone knows this fixture and how to open it. There are no screws on eiter side or end, just wood. I have pushed it up and over and pulled. There are some metal pieces between the wooden box and the metal box with the tubes in it. They must be part of the mechanism but how do I get to them?
I'm guessing a crowbar or a 5-pound sledge would open it up.
If your fingers will go inside from the top, feel around the ends for some kind of spring latch that will release the translucent panel.
Yeah, that's my thinking -- either spring latches, probably at the ends, or a sort of bayonet latch where you need to lift up and then slide in one direction.
Still no solution!
I have tried pushing and pulling in all directions. I have looked and felt for latches or releases. I could take it down from the ceiling, I guess and figure it out from there. It's heavy, though and I have been working by myself.
This is where that fiber optic camera would come in handy.
(Have you considered using your phone camera to take some pictures?)