Colossus Dimmer Switch

[Wile E. Coyote]

So I got a killer deal, too good to pass up on a Perfectly clear Red Wax, Clear Liquid Colossus Lava Lamp, and both myself, and the gentleman who I got it from said that I'd just need a new bulb. Cool!! ...So It's the actual dimmer switch that needs replacing. Am I to assume, that just a regular dimmer switch from home depot will do it? I suppose it could just be wiring as On/Off, but I'd really prefer the dimmer to cut down on the 12 hour warm up time. The original switch is basically about a 3 inch circut board with a 500k pot, and a resistor and capacitor. Just looking for some thoughts and ideas. Don't wanna burn the house down...

[Vadeem Beginnin]

You can use a regular dimmer switch, just mount it in a double metal "outlet" box (they can get warm), with a plug outlet next to it. That way you can plug in your lamp without ruining its original configuration. Get a white dimmer module so you can make marks for the running heat, and the standby heat.

The Triac in the dimmer, cuts the power off many times per second, saving electricity during the "off" part of the cycle. Of course it is not 100% efficient (thus the heat), but at the 50% dimming setting, you are saving about 40% electricity.

A bulb running at 50% power runs 20 times longer.

[Vadeem Beginnin]

Also, while you have it open, if you were worried about your kids leaving the lamp cranked up full power all the time and killing your wax, you could install a thermal cut off switch inside the base.

This would interrupt the lamp until things cooled down and then light it up again.

[Wile E. Coyote]

Thank you all for the great info!! I'm having it fixed in the next couple days. Would you believe I've had this thing for almost 3 months, and have yet to see it work!! Worth the wait!! I'll post pics!!

Thanks again all!!

[Wile E. Coyote]

I was looking through the pictures on the site last night, and came across yours!! I LOVE THAT COLOSSUS!!! The Purple liquid / Yellow wax would be my ultimate Lava Lamp!! GORGEOUS!!

[Metallica Man Trevor]

I want one so bad!

Wile E. Coyote said:

I was looking through the pictures on the site last night, and came across yours!! I LOVE THAT COLOSSUS!!! The Purple liquid / Yellow wax would be my ultimate Lava Lamp!! GORGEOUS!!