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Post by SylvreKat on Jan 11, 2016 12:01:55 GMT -5
So does anyone have any skill with making a Grande* lava lamp flow its lava properly? I got this from the nice pawn shop up the street. She said it worked great when it came in, 'til that bulb burned out. "Typical guys" (her words) they threw out that bulb and just stuck in another that fit. Which didn't make the lava glob. So they tried another. Still no floating globs. So they got an "expensive" (her word again) bulb which just made the lava sort of mound up a bit. Well, the base very plainly states to use a R20 100watt 120volt bulb. They had a 130v bulb, which doesn't get as hot as a 120v. I had to go to a lightbulb store (yes, we're so up-to-date in Kansas City, we have a store that sells nothing except light bulbs). They told me that wasn't made anymore (darn gov't regulations!  ) but got me a halogen, R20 100w 75v. They figured since halogens burn hotter than incans, it should be pretty comparable. It produces these really disgusting intestinal-looking tubules instead of the floating globs. Ew! Finally found the right incan at Batteries+ Bulbs. Which STILL doesn't make globs, it makes more, fatter intestines. EW!! I've tried calling the Lava Lamp from their site, but I get voice mail. I'll try again at lunch. But I had the thought, you guys are all so smart with scooters, maybe one (or more) of you are equally smart about non-scooters things. Including gianormous lava lamps. So, anyone have any ideas here? I can post pics, but it would just gross you out and make the more sensitive folks puke.  >'Kat *"Grande" meaning the super-giant sized lamp that's over 2 feet tall |
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Post by kevinharrell on Jan 11, 2016 19:48:52 GMT -5
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Post by rockynv on Jan 12, 2016 0:07:13 GMT -5
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Post by dollartwentyfive on Jan 12, 2016 0:41:08 GMT -5
it's the heat of the bulb that makes the lava light work.
i would go with the dimmer idea, plus get a higher wattage bulb, say 120W or maybe slightly higher.
putting a silvered reflector around the bulb might work too
also remember there is a lag time between adjusting the dimmer and getting the effect.
start the dimmer on the lowest setting and adjust up, waiting approximately 2 hours between each setting.
also remember that there will be differences depending on air temp and if there is a breeze.
there is a narrow range of heat that your light will work.
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Post by SylvreKat on Jan 12, 2016 11:47:59 GMT -5
Well, I found some youtube vids last night of time-lapsed smaller lava lamps starting up. One looks very much like what my giant one's been doing, just making fat intestine-tubules that sometimes burp gas from the top (really disgusting, that!).
So I decided to leave it on more than the site-recommended 8 hours. It has now been on about 12 hours, and is trying hard to make large globs float up. Not quite succeeding there. But the lava is def' more fluid than it's appeared in the past.
Somewhere last night I read to not leave a lava lamp on more the 12 hours. Somewhere else said these ginormous lava lamps take way longer to heat up and really get going. Since mine's reached a point (for the first time) where it's at least trying to make globs rather than intestines, I'm leaving it on and keeping a close eye on it. The glass is really REALLY hot--hot enough that I'd need potholders if I wanted to lift it.
>'Kat
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Post by SylvreKat on Jan 12, 2016 11:52:33 GMT -5
And replies--
kev', wouldn't a R20 100w 120v bulb be pretty much the same regardless?
rocky, I don't understand how a dimmer switch would help my lamp heat the lava past intestines and to floating globs.
dollar, this helps some. So I would get a dimmer and a hotter bulb, then basically nuke that lava to get it started then turn down the heat? I do know that too cool and the lava just sits there, too hot and it either goes too vigorously or just makes a big ol' mound swelling up from the bottom. It's like Goldilocks and wants it just right. Which I've obviously failed to find for it yet.
And flow-update pending....
>'Kat
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Post by rockynv on Jan 12, 2016 12:49:31 GMT -5
Get a hotter bulb than you have and then you can adjust it down with the dimmer if its too hot.
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Post by SylvreKat on Jan 12, 2016 13:26:45 GMT -5
Update time--
It is still trying real hard to make globs and float them. Still not quite managing it. They're more like globs with a big attachment of lava connecting it to the bottom.
I did get ahold of the customer service lady from the lava lamp site. She asked if the coil is at the bottom (well, it was before I turned the lamp on....) and asked how long I've run it. I told her I ran it the minimum 4 hours the first couple times, then 8 hours twice. Then I found the time-lapse vids and decided to just let it go 'til it did more than intestines, 'cause the vids of the smaller ones starting look same as mine's been doing. She confirmed that what I'm calling intestines is the lava starting to get warm enough to flow. And that the 4 hour stints were far too short for this big lamp, that it was just getting started and then I shut it off. The 8 hours should've worked, but she thinks I disrupted its rhythm by then. And also, who knows what the pawn shop folks did with it--ran it an hour or two only maybe, although it sounded like she'd turn it on first thing and let it go all day.
I am to run it 10 hours daily for the next 4 days. Well, three now, since I did more than that last night. She said this should reset its rhythm and get it flowing properly. Otherwise call back Fri and they'll replace it. Hm. Looks like I let it go all night again, same as last night. But that bothers me, being asleep while a 100w bulb is putting out massive amounts of heat.
Sigh. The things we do for neato things. And who'da thunk that lamps can have rhythm?
Further update pending....
>'Kat
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Post by SylvreKat on Jan 12, 2016 13:27:27 GMT -5
Btb rocky, if this doesn't work, and if the c.s. lady ends up not being able to help, then I'll go your route with the dimmer and the hotter bulb.
>'Kat
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Post by dollartwentyfive on Jan 12, 2016 14:21:23 GMT -5
And replies-- dollar, this helps some. So I would get a dimmer and a hotter bulb, then basically nuke that lava to get it started then turn down the heat? I do know that too cool and the lava just sits there, too hot and it either goes too vigorously or just makes a big ol' mound swelling up from the bottom. It's like Goldilocks and wants it just right. Which I've obviously failed to find for it yet. And flow-update pending.... >'Kat no, you are going about it backwards. start out on the lowest dimmer setting, and wait a couple of hours to see what happens. if you don't get an effect, then crank up the dimmer to the next notch and wait a couple more hours. ambient temps will have some, maybe a lot, of effect on how your light works. in winter, your light might not work at all because of the cooler temp of the room. putting your light in the sun will also have an effect, possibly a large one. placement of your light will have an effect, putting it by an outside door. |
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Post by SylvreKat on Jan 12, 2016 22:46:45 GMT -5
Just got home and downstairs. Lamp should've been on for about 2, 2.5 hours.
We have collapsed intestines. EWWWW!
>'Kat
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Post by SylvreKat on Jan 12, 2016 22:48:58 GMT -5
dollar, why wouldn't I start it hotter to get it warmed up and flowing sooner, then turn it down once it's flowing almost how I want it to? "Almost" because I know the heat won't cool immediately, so if I dim it a bit soon then it should be just right once the dimmer-down kicks in.
edit to add--I do have the lamp near an outside wall with a very large window, so it could be chilled down. Not where I'll keep it, if I do keep it, but the most convenient place for it right now while I'm needing to check on it during the night and while I'm computering etc.
>'Kat
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Post by dollartwentyfive on Jan 13, 2016 13:09:12 GMT -5
dollar, why wouldn't I start it hotter to get it warmed up and flowing sooner, then turn it down once it's flowing almost how I want it to? "Almost" because I know the heat won't cool immediately, so if I dim it a bit soon then it should be just right once the dimmer-down kicks in. you could start at the highest setting, but if you use a higher wattage bulb than recommended then you run the risk of cracking the glass. the reason i said to use a higher wattage bulb was to ensure the lamp would get hot enough. but after your edit, i suspect the reason your light isn't working properly is because of a bad location. you could try putting the lamp in an upturned fish aquarium, or placing iytr in an "inside" corner. "inside" corner as in a corner that doesn't have an outside wall, and keeping it away from windows. keep in mind that your light works by a balance of heat transfer. if this balance is upset, then the light will not work properly. instead of the dimmer/ higher wattage bulb, i recommend trying to find a better location. you run the risk of cracking the glass with a higher wattage bulb. who knows, maybe this light might not work anywhere else except in your bedroom behind closed doors. that large window is probably sucking a lot of heat from your light. try placing it in an upturned aquarium. with enough patience, you will find the ideal location for your light. just remember your light works by a careful balance of heat load, and anything that upsets that balance will affect your light. |
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Post by SylvreKat on Jan 13, 2016 16:43:29 GMT -5
Back home. Been on for possibly 2 hours. It looks rather like a forest of intestines in there right now. Eeewwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!! Although perhaps that's an improvement on collapsed intestines? As for the window-wall location, today is quite a bit warmer than yest. I just stood outside a half-hour coatless with the neighbor's son who was taking down our Christmas lights. It was a bit chilly, but not horrid. I think my car showed upper 40s coming home. So theoretically the lamp should be working better than yest which was lots colder. But tom morning when it's cooled again, I'll see about moving it in a little from the wall. It'll have a filled bookshelf blocking the window, and be maybe two feet further away from outside walls. That really is about the best I can give it right now. EEEWWWWWWW--it's making a reaching intestine!  >'Kat |
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Post by rockynv on Jan 14, 2016 0:45:05 GMT -5
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