Re: Touch Lamp Is Erratic

It sounds like I should open it up and replace the necessary components.

default wrote:
On Fri, 11 May 2007 06:10:46 -0700, "W. Watson"
<wolf_tracks@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I have a lamp near my bed that is controlled by touching a part of the metal. I like it. Each touch brightness until it then turns off. However, it has started turning on in the middle of the night. Anyone know what cause might be? Does something wear out and need to be replaced?

Not "wearing out." One component may be changing value over time
changing the threshold it senses as a touch.

Touch lamps can be temperamental. Dirt or humidity can change the
characteristics - I don't know the type you are talking about but some
lamps use a fiber or paper insulator between the metal shell (part you
touch or connects to it) and power line connection to the lamp -
humidity goes up lamp triggers because the paper is slightly
conductive (exacerbated if you've ever spilled something remotely
hygroscopic in it)

They can also trigger with fluctuations in the power mains - look for
a coincident event like a heater switching on or lamp dimmer used or
something else along those lines. Power outages or glitches are
another cause of false triggers.

The things are too cheap to be worth fixing - and there's a shock
hazard involved while troubleshooting it and again after it is back in
use if the repair is less than safe.

--
Wayne Watson (Nevada City, CA)

Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net>
.

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