Need a possible diagnosis...

[Silver Gemini]

Hello, 

First off I'd like to say that I am completely new to lava lamps. I've always wanted one, and as of recently I have acquired one that was previously used. Starting out, I knew nothing about lava lamps, aside from they needed some time to heat up. My research brought me here to this site which has been hugely helpful in understanding these amazing lamps. 

Anyway, completely off topic there. My first run of it seemed okay, I wasn't sure what to expect exactly but it looked good. Once it cooled I had moved it to my room. Over the next few days I ran it and it seemed good and then suddenly the other day it became very sluggish, huge amounts stretching up at once but just lingering as a mass. It was like this for hours almost unchanging, and I was about to consider it dead. Then on a whim I turned off my ceiling fan, lo and behold it started working again and I got to enjoy it in a stuffy room. 

Now there is movement, but there are tons of bubbles in the goo and I get a lot of the teeny balls. The bigger ones also tend to linger at the top in a cluster, not exactly melding together or anything like they had been before. I'm not sure if this is normal, or what or if it's just from its age, which I've yet to decipher from the code on the cap, it's not like any of the ones I've seen listed here. I'm adding a few pics to gather some opinions. If needed for observation I can provide some video. 

[Claude J]

lamp is running too hot.

that is why it changed once a ceiling fan was turned on

either use a smaller wattage bulb or install a inline dimmer

[Silver Gemini]

I thought it may be too hot, but I wasn't for sure. But with the ceiling fan on it barely moves after four to five hours. The current bulb is a 25 watt. I have recently moved it though, to a spot that isn't in direct line of the a/c vent, I'll run it with the fan on an see what happens. 

Claude J said:

lamp is running too hot.

that is why it changed once a ceiling fan was turned on

either use a smaller wattage bulb or install a inline dimmer

[Claude J]

lava lamps are like real estate, location, location, location,..

Keep it out of direct breezes and you can then fine tune it

[Silver Gemini]

Haha. 

Alright, thank you so much for your help. 

The entirety of my room is a breeze but I'll adjust what I can until I can get a dimmer switch to put on it. 

What switch would you reccomed? A plug in variety or a hi/low to replace the original switch on it?

Claude J said:

lava lamps are like real estate, location, location, location,..

Keep it out of direct breezes and you can then fine tune it

[Claude J]

you can either replace the inline switch with dimmer (if soldering skills are OK)

Or use a plug-in dimmer

Eiother way it should be voltage adjustable, not just a hi/lo option

[Silver Gemini]

Alright, thank you again. I'll go with a plug-in dimmer. My soldering skills are non-existent, looks like I may need to learn at a point.

[Claude J]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lutron-TT-300H-WH-Electronics-Plug-In-Lamp-...

or

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Philmore-30-10194-AC-Plug-In-Dimmer-Switch-...

[Silver Gemini]

Thanks, that Lutron one is probably the one I'll go with for sure. 

The lamp has been on for five hours now and it's flowing about the same, a few less small bits of goo floating around. This is with my ceiling fan on and it in it's new spot. It took it a bit longer to heat up with the fan on, but it's generally acting the same as before so I'll be investing in a dimmer switch for it. 

Also from the cap label of it, how can I tell when it was made? 

[Keith]

14, year

09, month

19, day of month

01, maybe 1st shift?

That's my best educated guess, I think it's accurate.

Linsey said:

Also from the cap label of it, how can I tell when it was made? 

[Keith]

Sounds like the lamp was too cold with the fan on but too hot with it off.  Like Claude said, location!

[Silver Gemini]

Awesome! Thanks. 

It does make sense actually. I just looked at the base out of curiosity and its was made 08/14 so the lamp isn't all that old.

Keith said:

14, year

09, month

19, day of month

01, maybe 1st shift?

That's my best educated guess, I think it's accurate.

Linsey said:

Also from the cap label of it, how can I tell when it was made? 

[Silver Gemini]

I turned my floor fan on and it's pointed int the top of the corner where my lamp is. On high it was too cold, on medium its almost right I think, a little too hot still. So a dimmer is certainly needed to get it just right.

Thanks for the pics, those help out quite a bit.

Keith said:

Sounds like the lamp was too cold with the fan on but too hot with it off.  Like Claude said, location!