Replies

1. 
   maddog3 | May 21, 2006 12:31am | #1

   how did you measure the voltage??

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   'Wer ist jetzt der Idiot?'

1. 
   Rich | May 21, 2006 05:59pm | #5

   I measured the voltage with a fluke meter, one lead on the ungrounded lamp frame and one lead on the neareby grounded wall heater.  

1. 
   BillHartmann | May 21, 2006 06:58pm | #6

   "I measured the voltage with a fluke meter"Fluke is a brand name, not a type of meter. My guess is that you used a high impedence digital voltmete.They are so "sensitive" that will measure capacitively couple signals from other circuits.Open circuits will often measure 20 - 100 volts on them when a digital voltmeter is used.If you have a real concern then there are a couple of things that you can try.One is to put the meter on a current range and connect from the frame to ground and see if you get any measurable current.Personally I would "ground" the lamp through a 100k resistor and then make the voltage measurement. But I doubt that you have one handy.Another option would be to plug it into a GFCI protected receptacle. Then ground the case and see if the GFCI trips.

1. 
   MarkH | May 21, 2006 08:30pm | #7

   Or just stick your tongue on it.

2. 
   maddog3 | May 21, 2006 10:56pm | #8

   I don't think you have a problem, I checked some of my table lamps just now...they have the same touch feature....
   and I was reading about 2.3 volts.
   Flukes are very sensitive and will display all sorts of volts, both true and capacitive , which can make you nuts if you let it...for peace of mind try what BHartmann has suggested, & use a large load (resistor) to verify your readings...or just get someone else to turn the thing on.also, as a rule I try not to touch electrical apparati and grounded surfaces at the same time, but that's due to constant reminders and some hard lessons learned during my apprenticeship, and I offer that as a VERY good idea..

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   'Wer ist jetzt der Idiot?'

2. 
   Agatized | May 21, 2006 08:09am | #2

   It ain't the voltage that kills you, its the current. You can go touch a Van de Graff generator and get several hundred thousand volts but the current is in nanoamps, so its harmless. The voltage on the touch lamp serves as a trigger to change the light setting. When you touch it, it changes the voltage, changing the lamp setting. As long as the touch voltage is supplied through a high impedance, it can't do any damage to you.

   Erich

1. 
   Jer | May 21, 2006 04:06pm | #3

   The Force will get you every time.

2. 
   MarkH | May 21, 2006 04:34pm | #4

   Ever try working a touch lamp with your tongue?

1. 
   Agatized | May 22, 2006 07:08am | #9

   MarkH Wrote: "Ever try working a touch lamp with your tongue?"Yes, works just as well. Should work just as well with ANY body part :-}

1. 
   MarkH | May 22, 2006 01:23pm | #10

   I haven't tried working one with anything but my finger, but yes any body part should work fine.  I thought they worked by capacitively coupling 60 hz to a detector circuit, so there should be no actual voltage present on the lamp frame.  Probably just a fluke.