The list of touch-sensitive devices grows every day and we are witnessing it all the time. Even though they’re not anything new, touch-sensitive lamps are especially intriguing to us, so this time we will talk about everything you need to know about them.
We use touch technology more frequently than ever and we basically forgot that mobile phones with buttons ever existed. That is a classical example of how easy we are getting used to the new principles and approaches to everything, and lamps are no exception.
Touch-sensitive lamps
A touch-sensitive lamp is triggered by human touch, so it does not work on the principle of any mechanical switch, such as a push-button.
Body capacitance is what activates them. Those lamps detect our touch and that causes them to turn on or off.
Capacitors, placed in circuits, are capable of storing a charge and they create a voltage change that basically makes them work.
Read more on how touch-sensitive lamps work.
These lamps are most often used as desk or nightstand lamps, but they come in all shapes and sizes so they can be used elsewhere also. It would be very easy to find the one that will fit your standards and needs.
Some of the touch-sensitive lamps have dimmer capabilities, so you can regulate the brightness of the beam by using only your fingers.
They are so easy to use and in some ways more practical!
For example, when you need lighting in your dark bedroom, it is much easier to use the touch lamp, instead of searching for a dial or a switch on a traditional lamp.
Do touch lamps need special bulbs?
Touch lamps do not require special bulbs.
Any standard bulb will be a perfect fit for your touch lamp. The only thing you need to pay attention to is that dimmable LED bulbs might not work with touch lights, but there are plenty of touch lights made explicitly for use with LEDs.
Are touch lamps repairable?
A sudden disappointment occurs every time something just stops working. Touch lamps are prone to malfunctions also and there is a way to combat those problems.
Touch lamps are repairable, but there might be a little more effort invested to fix them because you need to dismantle them in order to replace any part.
We will list the steps for repairing below:
- Before starting anything radical, troubleshoot the problem. It can be just a bad bulb or electrical outlet.
- Take a look if the wires inside the lamp are looking normal and if they’re maybe disconnected. In order to check that, you will need to remove the bottom of your lamp after unplugging it. Unplugging is always the key to your safety.
- Buy a new touch sensor and replace it with the old one. Follow the rules outlined in the manual.
- Burnt fuses can represent the core of the problem, so take a look at the fuses inside your lamp. If that’s the problem, get rid of burnt fuses and replace them with fuses that contain the same voltage rating.
- You might need a new power control transistor, also known as TRIAC or thyristor. It is placed on the circuit board at the base of your lamp and it occupies the largest area of the board. Take it off and replace it with the new one.
Why is my touch lamp flickering?
Your touch lamp contains sensors that respond to air, motion, and your touch, so it is easy to note its sensitivity.
Dusty socket, bad or loose bulb or electricity usage from another appliance could be the potential reasons for the unwanted flickering of your touch lamp.
Those are the most common problems that lead to flickering and they are easy to solve.
Dusty socket
If you’re dealing with the dusty socket, the only way to solve it is to clean it. Firstly, unplug the lamp and wait for the bulb to reach a low temperature. You can use a standard paper towel for that purpose. A flashlight will surely help you if you can’t see everything clearly.
A bad or loose bulb
The bad bulb will call for replacement, but the loose bulb will need to be tightened. It is easy to detect if the bulb is loose – it is pretty unstable and too mobile.
Too much electricity usage
If your lamp flickers when the heat is on, plug it into another electrical appliance because the current one might be too occupied.
Conclusion
Touch lamps are very popular all over the world due to their practicality, ease of use, and beautiful appearance. Now when you know everything you need to know about touch-sensitive lamps, you might want one for yourself.
Since there is plenty of them and some will certainly be to your liking, it is not difficult to find them. You can search for them online, or purchase them in any store that sells lighting devices.
Maybe they are not as easy to repair as standard lamps, but with the guide that we discussed above, the repair will not be a big problem. The most important thing is to gather enough information before buying anything.
