 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jenna
Date: 2002-12-10 00:23
Anyone know the logistics of constructing a touchlamp? Perhaps from an old metal clarinet or trumpet? I'm just curious if it would be at all possible, and thought maybe someone around here could explain how it works.
Sorry for the randomness, but any ideas are appreciated.
jenna
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2002-12-10 00:28
It is a simple thing to do. You need to get the guts for such a lamp... I've seen them at local hardware stores and hobby stores ($4-$8 U.S. if I remember correctly). I believe that the touch option requires that the metal be hooked up to the guts of the circuit. So a metal clarinet would work just fine... all you have to do is run the ground wire to the mouthpiece or bell joint and capture it there between the pieces. A wooden clarinet would require that you run the wire to the keys (probably through a tone hole.
It would be much simpler to just use a metal base which responds to touch and not worry about grounding the clarinet.
TH
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-12-10 03:59
Nothing random about room lighting in my estimation, Jenna... unless you enjoy reading by candlelight:) A few years ago motion sensors were installed in the restrooms where I worked. When someone enters, the light(s) go on. Then the light switches off after the room is unoccupied for a few minutes. Pretty neat for the conservation conscious. Since then I've thought of adapting that to a lamp but never got around to investigating further. As Terry says, those things are so do-it-yourself friendly these days your local hardware store probably has everything you need right off the shelf, with easy to follow instructions.
Those restroom switches were so popular, by the way, someone stole them the first morning they were in service (no, NOT yours truly). Very disappointing, they went back to the old style that afternoon. It was nice while it lasted though.
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Author: David Stringer
Date: 2002-12-10 12:14
For my clarinet lamp, I bought a $10 lamp with a base and shade that I liked. In the next asile over I got lamp-type threaded pipe and barrel joiners. The socket was black plastic, and about the length of a mouthpiece. The whole thing went together in five minutes flat (I was lucky that the threaded rod bits were the right length... no sawing).
As a bonus, no clarinets were harmed in the making of the lamp, I could take it off again and play it (if it was playable, that is).
I haven't run across a touch unit in the hardware store, though. Maybe you could start with a cheap, ugly touch lamp?
David
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Author: ed
Date: 2002-12-10 13:31
to build the ckt from parts requires 2 triacs, and a capacitor, in a flip-flop configuration. the gate of the one triac goes to the metal frame via a resistor. it would be better, and safer to find the ckt from another lamp.
ed
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Author: jenna
Date: 2002-12-10 15:29
Thanks, all. I was mainly asking the question for my boyfriend, an aerospace engineering major and trumpet player. He toyed with the idea of making a lamp from an old horn, then decided he wanted to make it a touch lamp. He will appreciate the suggestion of kits and ed's explanation of the actual concept. He knew it had to do with capacitors, etc. but not much else.
This should make for a nice project to keep him occupied during the winter break. I will let you know how it turns out. =)
And if anyone else wants to add their two cents, then by all means.
jenna
btw - I know exactly what kind of lights you mean, ron. My high school had a similar setup in many classrooms. They would go off every so often during class when there wasn't much motion to detect.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-12-12 14:29
Electrical wiring is best left to experts since one mistake can be deadly. Grounding and ground wires are especially tricky.
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2002-12-13 03:52
Bob,
<font color="red" size="+2"><B>Experts?</b></font> Come on here, we are talking three wires here, with copious instructions. Get the one which screws into the socket and we are now talking two wires. Don't plug it in until it is right and even then the circuit is equipped with a breaker, maybe a ground fault one. If you've got the smarts to play a clarinet then there is no problem doing the lamp thing. There will probably be fewer than three nuclear explosions from everyone on this board who is doing a lamp.
Wait, I do understand the concern an <I>aerospace engineering student</i> is going to try and follow the instructions... quick, which state is he in, I may have to move away!
No offense intended, just continuing your humor, Bob
Terry
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Author: jenna
Date: 2002-12-13 05:04
hehe
I wasn't going to say anything, Terry. I'm pretty confident in Marc's lamp building skills. He's a crafty fellow. Always building this or that (you should see his latest design for a coffee table). As far as electric goes he helped wire his entire house when it was built, so I'm assuming he can handle a kit. And.. btw, he plays clarinet to boot! Didn't mean to sound as though I was tooting a horn with the aerospace thing (read back over it and thought it may have come off that way). Just thought it may have been relevant since he is into all of that stuff with various electro-engineering classes and whatnots.
We're in NJ. =)
So has anyone else tried the touchlamp concept? Out of curiousity...
Thanks again,
Jenna
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2002-12-13 07:10
Wow,
Thank goodness, I am on the other coast... prevailing winds should keep the fallout away for a while! I have a bachelors degree in engineering so I know how dangerous we can be!
One question Jenna, why does he play his clarinet to his boots? Inquiring minds want to know.
TH
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Author: Deborah
Date: 2002-12-13 11:25
I haven't made any lamps, but I did do a search on e-bay for clarinet lamps and seen 4 on there and one was a touch lamp.
As far as the boot goes....maybe only the boot is willing to listen just kidding. With the one I'm trying to get working I think my boots would be running (if I had them)! I know the cat, kids and hubby do! That's one way to get a quiet house!:) hahaha it's getting better....about 5 notes working now. Takes everyone longer to run:)
Enjoyed the humor.
Hope you all have a Great day!
Deborah
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Author: jenna
Date: 2002-12-13 16:13
The boots are the only thing he can get to listen. =)
He's getting better though.. and at least it's not quite as loud as the trumpet... yet..
jenna
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