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Touch Lamp Is Erratic

D

default

Jan 1, 1970
0
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.
 
W

W. Watson

Jan 1, 1970
0
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?
 
W

W. Watson

Jan 1, 1970
0
It sounds like I should open it up and replace the necessary components.
 
M

Michael A. Terrell

Jan 1, 1970
0
W. Watson said:
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.


--
Service 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
 
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?

I experience the same problem. Traced the cause to the cat.
 
W

W. Watson

Jan 1, 1970
0
Thanks. I live in a very hilly area in a pretty small community. This
happens at night and wakes us up.
 
W

W. Watson

Jan 1, 1970
0
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.
 
M

Michael A. Terrell

Jan 1, 1970
0
Anthony said:
That or low flying UFOs.


Unidentified Furry Object?


--
Service 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
 
K

Ken Fowler

Jan 1, 1970
0
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.


--
Service 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

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
 
D

default

Jan 1, 1970
0
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

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.
 
W

W. Watson

Jan 1, 1970
0
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.
 
W

W. Watson

Jan 1, 1970
0
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.
 
R

Rich Grise

Jan 1, 1970
0
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.
 
W

W. Watson

Jan 1, 1970
0
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.
 
D

default

Jan 1, 1970
0
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.
 
W

W. Watson

Jan 1, 1970
0
Strangely, mine suddenly started acting properly again. I think someone
mentioned above the possibility of nearby RF interference.
 
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