Touch operated table lamps

electricdave · 21 Jul 2011

Hi,
A mate brought a touch operated table lamp to repair.
I was horrified to see the brass which you touch to operate the lamp is NOT earthed,but is connected to the circuit board,which is live at 230 volts.
Dangerous or what!!!

Dave

ban-all-sheds · 21 Jul 2011

If it was earthed it wouldn't work, would it....

bernardgreen · 21 Jul 2011

electricdave said:
but is connected to the circuit board,which is live at 230 volts

Hopefully the touch metal is connected only to a very high and good quailty resistor. It should be at least one meg ohm so the maximum worst case current that can flow through the fingers is less than 230 micro amps. That would be when the person was holding onto an earth appliance with their other hand. I seem to recall the touch lamp my daughter has is fitted with a 12 meg resistor, max current 20 micro amps so quite safe when used as intended.

ban-all-sheds · 21 Jul 2011

I wonder if electricdave has, or has ever had, a neon screwdriver?

Taylortwocities · 21 Jul 2011

Ora digital one

Astra99 · 22 Jul 2011

These @%$$!& touch-lights! When they go faulty surely they should fail-safe and go open-circuit! Not one that we had. Touched it and got a "bite" Taught my grandson a new word!

Chopped out the circuitry in the base, put in 3-core flex with an in-line switch (still 2-core up the stem to the double-insulated lampholder - soldered connections) and a CFL lamp! Works a treat.

electricdave · 24 Jul 2011

Hi
ASTRA99 has proved they are not save.
I have been an electrician for many years and PAT tested 1000,s of appliances.
REgards
Dave

sparkticus · 24 Jul 2011

I thought the internal PSU is supposed to be SELV on these types of lamps?

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Touch operated table lamps

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