conductive -touch switch- on a lamp

Nov 01, 2003 1 Replies

hi folks,



my wife bought a tiffany lamp which has what she said was a touch switch. the lamp has a chrome base. to turn lamp on you touch the lamp base with your bare finger.even the lightest of touches will turn it on. if you touch it again it will get brighter. another touch and it will turn off.



however if you try to turn it on using your finger nail or if you cover your finger in plastic wrap and try, it wont turn on no matter how hard you press.



how does this switch work? i have a feeling that this is a pretty bad idea for a house voltage electrical device.



Sam


They work by sensing the additional capacitance of your body touching the metal lamp frame.

i have a feeling that this is a pretty bad

From an electrical safety viewpoint, they present no particular hazard. They do emit all kinds of electrical noise that interferes with radio and TV reception, and should be banned on those grounds...:)

Bob Weiss N2IXK

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required