A question for the physics-minded...

Do you think altitude has anything to do with how a lamp performs? I live about 7000 feet above sea level, and I have to do a fair amount of adjusting to get my lamps to flow properly. For example: extender socket on a grande, 130v bulbs on some 32 oz. lamps & 120v bulbs on others, bending the socket closer to the globe on wizards, etc.) In particular with goo kits, which supposedly don't need as much heat to run, my 32 oz. needs 100% of a 40w/120v bulb to run, and my 52 oz. has to run on a 60w/120v (slightly dimmed). Just curious if the lower air pressure at this altitude has anything to do with any of this, or if it's just the finicky nature of lava in general.

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Permalink Reply by Rob C on October 2, 2013 at 7:02pm

Thanks, lala - that makes sense. It's the same reason cooking directions always have to be adjusted as well. Should have made the connection.

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Permalink Reply by Alfred on October 2, 2013 at 7:23pm

I would expect not, since lamps are generally completely sealed. It could make a difference if you open a lamp up, but considering that I haven't heard of any problems with capping a lamp while it's hot vs. cold, I doubt that as well. (Capping a lamp while it's heated, which is what I've always done, will create a much larger reduction in internal pressure than a 6000 ft altitude gain.)

Thinking about it, I expect that the thinner air transfers heat to the globe slightly more slowly, but I would be surprised if this has a significant effect. Ambient temperature probably does a lot more to change a lamp's flow.