The kitchen lights in my condo went out recently, so I went and got a T12 electronic ballast to replace the old magnetic ballast in one of the fixtures (the ballast in the other fixture had previously been replaced). In order to do that I removed the fixture from the ceiling, and now I find that the holes where the mounting screws went are too big to accommodate them. I inserted a screwdriver in the holes to see if there was anything for the screws to screw into, but it just flailed around loosely and didn't hit anything. The ceiling is drywall, about 3/4 of an inch thick. I got some patching plaster, but I'm not sure if that will work. Any suggestions?
Issue Replacing Light Fixture
- Thread starter B613
- Start date
Help Support House Repair Talk:
nealtw
Contractor retired
Welcome to the site. There are anchors that screw into the drywall that you screw to.
Here are a few.
https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=cr&ei=kEPrUr33HsyFogSg2IKIDA#q=drywall+screw+anchors
Here are a few.
https://www.google.ca/?gws_rd=cr&ei=kEPrUr33HsyFogSg2IKIDA#q=drywall+screw+anchors
Sounds like you had a toggle bolt up there and unscrewed the screw out of the toggle nut.
The screws you took out do they look like a wood screw or a machine screw thread.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-3-16-in-x-3-in-Zinc-Plated-Steel-Mushroom-Head-Phillips-Toggle-Bolt-Anchors-15-Pack-10292/100349323
The screws you took out do they look like a wood screw or a machine screw thread.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-3-16-in-x-3-in-Zinc-Plated-Steel-Mushroom-Head-Phillips-Toggle-Bolt-Anchors-15-Pack-10292/100349323
The toggle part stayed up in the ceiling. You will have to go to the hardware store and buy new toggle bolts take along the screw you have so you will get the same size. They fold over and you put them thru the hole and they snap open and you tighten them down.
