Jeff Wisnia
24-01-2005, 09:41 PM
Dan wrote:
> Hi All,
> Was hoping someone can help me w/a problem I'm having w/a screw-in
> type touch lamp/dimmer. The lamp I'm trying to use is a metal wall
> mounted swing arm lamp. The lamp has a sticker that says only 3 way
> bulbs of less than 150 watts should be used and that's the type of
> bulb I'm using. Dimang makes the screw in touch lamp dimmer.
> The lamp was working fine until some moved it to move a bed. After
> that, it didn't work at all. Tried loosening the bulb a bit which
> helped but if I touched the lamp too hard the lamp would go from off
> to dim to bright them off very rapidly repeatedly. I'm a quadriplegic
> and this device is a great help when it works. Any suggestions on how
> to fix this are greatly appreciated!
>
> Dan
> Quadzila@NOSPAMoptonline.net
> Remove NOSPAM from address when replying
>
>
>
The body of the lamp has to be connected to the sense input on the touch
adaptor ONLY. The sense input is a springy finger on the adaptor which
must touch the metal shell around the bulb socket. Check to see if
that's so, and correct it if it isn't touching.
You say it is a metal wall mounted lamp....
Is it mounted on an electrical box in the wall, or just fastened to the
wall with a lamp cord hanging down and plugged into a wall outlet?
If it's the former mounting, then the lamp body may be grounded through
its mounting screws, and AFAIK being permenantly installed, it probably
HAS to be grounded to meet code. In that case there's no easy way to get
the touch system to work properly, save for adding an insulated
conductive sleeve around the lamp arm and connecting it to the touch
adaptor's sense input after bending that input so it no longer touches
the bulb socket shell. Moving the lamp to make the bed may have created
continuity in a pivot joint which wasn't contacting at all "before".
If the lamp uses a regular cord plugged into an outlet, then the adaptor
should do its thing, so check that the sense finger is touching where it
should be first. You might also check to see if the lamp body is
laquered, that can insulate a light touch enough to keep the switch from
working.
Do you have exceptionally dry skin? Try licking your finger before
touching the lamp and see if that helps.
Happy New Year,
Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
"As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public
schools"
> Hi All,
> Was hoping someone can help me w/a problem I'm having w/a screw-in
> type touch lamp/dimmer. The lamp I'm trying to use is a metal wall
> mounted swing arm lamp. The lamp has a sticker that says only 3 way
> bulbs of less than 150 watts should be used and that's the type of
> bulb I'm using. Dimang makes the screw in touch lamp dimmer.
> The lamp was working fine until some moved it to move a bed. After
> that, it didn't work at all. Tried loosening the bulb a bit which
> helped but if I touched the lamp too hard the lamp would go from off
> to dim to bright them off very rapidly repeatedly. I'm a quadriplegic
> and this device is a great help when it works. Any suggestions on how
> to fix this are greatly appreciated!
>
> Dan
> Quadzila@NOSPAMoptonline.net
> Remove NOSPAM from address when replying
>
>
>
The body of the lamp has to be connected to the sense input on the touch
adaptor ONLY. The sense input is a springy finger on the adaptor which
must touch the metal shell around the bulb socket. Check to see if
that's so, and correct it if it isn't touching.
You say it is a metal wall mounted lamp....
Is it mounted on an electrical box in the wall, or just fastened to the
wall with a lamp cord hanging down and plugged into a wall outlet?
If it's the former mounting, then the lamp body may be grounded through
its mounting screws, and AFAIK being permenantly installed, it probably
HAS to be grounded to meet code. In that case there's no easy way to get
the touch system to work properly, save for adding an insulated
conductive sleeve around the lamp arm and connecting it to the touch
adaptor's sense input after bending that input so it no longer touches
the bulb socket shell. Moving the lamp to make the bed may have created
continuity in a pivot joint which wasn't contacting at all "before".
If the lamp uses a regular cord plugged into an outlet, then the adaptor
should do its thing, so check that the sense finger is touching where it
should be first. You might also check to see if the lamp body is
laquered, that can insulate a light touch enough to keep the switch from
working.
Do you have exceptionally dry skin? Try licking your finger before
touching the lamp and see if that helps.
Happy New Year,
Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
"As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public
schools"