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Electronics Forum / Basics / May 2007Touch Lamp Is Erratic
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?  SignatureWayne Watson (Nevada City, CA) Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net> >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. It sounds like I should open it up and replace the necessary components. >> 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 [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > hazard involved while troubleshooting it and again after it is back in > use if the repair is less than safe. SignatureWayne Watson (Nevada City, CA) Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net> > It sounds like I should open it up and replace the necessary components. You can get the whole module at Home depot for less than the cost to repair. BTW, sometimes they are triggered by two way radios in police cars or other VHF mobile radios when they are within a block of you. SignatureService to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to prove it. Member of DAV #85. Michael A. Terrell Central Florida Thanks. I live in a very hilly area in a pretty small community. This happens at night and wakes us up. >> It sounds like I should open it up and replace the necessary components. > > You can get the whole module at Home depot for less than the cost to > repair. BTW, sometimes they are triggered by two way radios in police > cars or other VHF mobile radios when they are within a block of you. SignatureWayne Watson (Nevada City, CA) Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net> Thanks for the mention of Home Depot too. I live 40 miles from the nearest one, and happen to be going there today for another reason. I'll check out these fixtures. > Thanks. I live in a very hilly area in a pretty small community. This > happens at night and wakes us up. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >> repair. BTW, sometimes they are triggered by two way radios in police >> cars or other VHF mobile radios when they are within a block of you. SignatureWayne Watson (Nevada City, CA) Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net> > > It sounds like I should open it up and replace the necessary components. > > You can get the whole module at Home depot for less than the cost to > repair. BTW, sometimes they are triggered by two way radios in police > cars or other VHF mobile radios when they are within a block of you. It's probably not the module. Touch Sensitive switches are very sensitive to High Frequency radio signals. You probably have a nearby Amateur Radio or CB Radio Station operating in the middle of the night. It could also be a two-way mobile radio passing by on the street. I have heard that there are some bypassing methods and that there are modules with less senstivity. The problem is that the "Touch" element is an antenna which reacts to the extra signal from your body when you touch it. Maybe you could wrap the whole thing in aluminum foil. Ken Fowler >> > It sounds like I should open it up and replace the necessary components. >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >Ken Fowler I had one of the Heathkit modules long before they became a Chinese export. The Heath one had a low pass filter so it would only work with a 60 hertz hum signal - but no telling how the Chinks do it. I found two different modules at Hope Depot by West Tec or Tec West. One is placed in the socket and the other is about the size of a match box. The latter has two wires coming out of it. I don't think it will work on my lamp. I'll look for the former one in a local h/w store. First, I'll open the lamp later and see if it operates that way. >>> It sounds like I should open it up and replace the necessary components. >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > the night. It could also be a two-way mobile radio passing by on the street. I have heard that > there are some bypassing methods and that there are modules with less senstivity. The problem is > that the "Touch" element is an antenna which reacts to the extra signal from your body when you > touch it. Maybe you could wrap the whole thing in aluminum foil. > > Ken Fowler SignatureWayne Watson (Nevada City, CA) Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net> Well, I guessed wrong. It's the matchbox type with wires. However, I have not bought a replacement unit. It may be as someone said above that it is dependent upon some SW signal around here. Oh, well, maybe I'll put a switch in it life we did for my wife's. > I found two different modules at Hope Depot by West Tec or Tec West. One > is placed in the socket and the other is about the size of a match box. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >> >> Ken Fowler SignatureWayne Watson (Nevada City, CA) Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net> > Well, I guessed wrong. It's the matchbox type with wires. However, I have > not bought a replacement unit. It may be as someone said above that it is > dependent upon some SW signal around here. Oh, well, maybe I'll put a switch > in it life we did for my wife's. If you use a push-on, push-off switch, you can maintain that "touch on, touch-off" feeling. ;-) Cheers! Rich PS: Bottom-posting is the norm here. >> I found two different modules at Hope Depot by West Tec or Tec West. One >> is placed in the socket and the other is about the size of a match box. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >>> >>> Ken Fowler That reminds me of the old Bob Hope joke about a new car. He said the mfger put a button in the car that really doesn't do anything for the car, but pushing it makes you feel better. >> Well, I guessed wrong. It's the matchbox type with wires. However, I have >> not bought a replacement unit. It may be as someone said above that it is [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] >>>> >>>> Ken Fowler SignatureWayne Watson (Nevada City, CA) Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net> >That reminds me of the old Bob Hope joke about a new car. He said the mfger >put a button in the car that really doesn't do anything for the car, but >pushing it makes you feel better. My wife had one of those touch three way dimmer switches. Worked fine for a few years then started coming on at odd times. Thing would come on at the low power setting for no apparent reason. She's back to using the switch. Strangely, mine suddenly started acting properly again. I think someone mentioned above the possibility of nearby RF interference. >> That reminds me of the old Bob Hope joke about a new car. He said the mfger >> put a button in the car that really doesn't do anything for the car, but [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > on at the low power setting for no apparent reason. She's back to > using the switch. SignatureWayne Watson (Nevada City, CA) Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net> > 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 [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net> I experience the same problem. Traced the cause to the cat. >> 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. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > I experience the same problem. Traced the cause to the cat. That or low flying UFOs. > >> 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. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > That or low flying UFOs. Unidentified Furry Object? SignatureService to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to prove it. Member of DAV #85. Michael A. Terrell Central Florida |
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