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Weird Lamp

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posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:10 AM
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Okay, we've had this table lamp for ten years or so.
It's one of those that can be turned on, turned off and made brighter by touch.
It also has an off/on switch.

Worked fine all theses years.
Still seems to work later in the day, just not first thing in the morning.

So, it won't turn on in the morning.
Either by touch or switch.
Changed bulb....and it works.

Next day.
No to turning on.
Switched bulbs....it works.
Bulb from yesterday works in another lamp.

WTF is going on??
Any ideas?
We couldn't even come up with a good google search LOL



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:16 AM
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have you tried plugging the lamp in another outlet in another room?



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:18 AM
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a reply to: DontTreadOnMe


Aliens.



What type of bulbs are you using? Incandescent, fluorescent or LED?



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:26 AM
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No, we haven't tried another outlet yet.

And, it is an old fashioned incandescent 60 W bulb.

Hopefully, not aliens or spirit possession



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:28 AM
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a reply to: DontTreadOnMe


Could be an internal short that is burning the filaments out on the incandescent.

If you have an LED bulb and screw it in it should flicker, strobe or have low output if there was a short as this would effect the microprocessor and driver.



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:28 AM
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What happens if you take out the bulb that's currently not working, then put it right back in?

(I'm thinking a bad connection in the bulb socket)



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:29 AM
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originally posted by: caterpillage
What happens if you take out the bulb that's currently not working, then put it right back in?

(I'm thinking a bad connection in the bulb socket)

We tried that.
Taking the bulb out...putting it back in.....no go.

New bulb....it works.

Wouldn't the socket be bad all the time, with all bulbs??
edit on Sun Dec 31 2017 by DontTreadOnMe because: (no reason given)



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:31 AM
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a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

The bulb from yesterday works in a different lamp.



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:32 AM
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a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

you might need a three way incandescent light bulb because it is a multi brightness swith
edit on 31-12-2017 by dashen because: (no reason given)



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:32 AM
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a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Here's a troubleshooting link that may help.
homeguides.sfgate.com...

I think it's possessed but, it COULD be something electrical.



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:33 AM
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originally posted by: DontTreadOnMe
The bulb from yesterday works in a different lamp.


Wow, that is odd. I go back to it being aliens.

Only other thing that I can think of is that the fixture somehow effected to bulb base causing it the not seat properly in that particular fixture.

Maybe get a volt meter and test the fixture for stray voltage on the outside/inside and then make sure the electrical wiring is intact internally.




edit on 31-12-2017 by AugustusMasonicus because: networkdude has no beer



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:34 AM
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originally posted by: TNMockingbird
I think it's possessed but...


I hope it is, then I could buy it and put it next to my Annabelle doll.



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:40 AM
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originally posted by: DontTreadOnMe

originally posted by: caterpillage
What happens if you take out the bulb that's currently not working, then put it right back in?

(I'm thinking a bad connection in the bulb socket)

We tried that.
Taking the bulb out...putting it back in.....no go.

New bulb....it works.

Wouldn't the socket be bad all the time, with all bulbs??


Eventually yes, if it's a connection issue, movement could cause it to make contact again, as well as temperature changes. Could try tapping on the side of the socket or the side of the lamp for that matter.
See if it causes it to flicker.
If it doesn't, then I'm barking up the wrong lamp.

And possession is your likely best suspect.
Contact the Catholic church, I think they have an Exorcist they can send out



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:41 AM
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a reply to: dashen

The lamp is set to take a, say, 60W bulb and make it on-brighter-brighter.
That is the way it's been used all along.
I don't think it was meant to use a 3-way.



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:41 AM
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Did the humidity in your home go up due to cooking/humidifier/tea kettle?

Ours works great till I put a kettle on the woodstove to combat the dry air, after an hour or two of that, it doesn't like to turn on.



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:42 AM
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a reply to: DontTreadOnMe



WTF is going on?? Any ideas? We couldn't even come up with a good google search LOL


Ohm's law at its finest. Electrons will always flow to the path of least resistance, so long as a path exists. Most cases dealing with situations you are dealing with stem from an intermittent loose connection/open circuit. The circuit... once it gets jostled or heat causes the loose connection to swell and connect better, the circuit operation is restored.

Since humans can't see electrons you need a DVOM (Digital Volt/Ohm Meter). When the circuit is off and cold, check for continuity between various points of electron travel. This can be found using voltage drop testing while the circuit is live, but the meter needs to be learned prior to using it on live circuits.

Most people throw their faulty equipment away after feeling its possessed. That's when someone like me comes along, picks it up from the curb, tightens the loose screw or poor connection, and resells the equipment as being free of demons...

You may have to take the padding on the botton off to find it, or replace the bulb socket assembly, but there is a poor connection between the plug for the wall and the bulb socket. Best wishes to your brighter days!



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:43 AM
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a reply to: caterpillage

Well, it is cold in the house in the morning.
Will try tapping it tomorrow morning.



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:53 AM
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a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Could be a ghost of lamps past.

Or maybe a short.




posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:55 AM
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a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Hmmmm.... a faulty variable resistor maybe?

The fact you can turn it off and on is a good sign, perhaps it's the wattage of the bulb as well, but if the brightness is touch activated then i'd avoid using that function for now.

If you can manually turn it off and on it should be fine, but avoid using the dimmer until you get it fixed, but all I can think of is a busted resistor, and that's R.I.P for the touch function, so perhaps you could switch to a lower wattage bulb and hope for the best.

Apart from that all I can recommend is yelling at it, and surprisingly that works.



posted on Dec, 31 2017 @ 11:57 AM
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Looks like we are down to loose connection or possession.




SIGH.....







 
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