Is this behavior normal?

[Josiah]

Hi

About a month ago I got a "lava lite lamp" made in the USA from goodwill, one of the "new HOT elek-trick colors", it looked to be new in the box and never used as the tape was still on it. The model is 9413 if that matters. It said to use a 40 watt appliance bulb, which i've used many kinds, frosted clear ect ect. I find that it takes about 1-1.5hrs to get a decent flow going, but after that it only flows for about 1.5-2hrs until it forms one big blob on the bottom. I also tried a 25w bulb which was frosted and it didn't even separate.

I know this is not how they all act because I recently picked up an old starlite with a tiny bulb and though after a few hours it turns into a bunch of blobs going up and down as opposed to one or two long snake like blobs.

Is the behavior for the lava lite lamp normal, am I doing something wrong or is this the nature of the beast?

Thank You.

[Keith]

No, it's not normal.  40w bulbs are what you need to use.  What else can you tell us about the globe?  Is the wax flat on the bottom, is it in a ball just above the bottom, is it attached to the coil or separated?  Also, what is the room temperature where the lamp is located?  Is there any airflow where the lamp is?

These are all clues that can point to what the problem is.  Also pictures help.

The lamp may not be getting warm enough, or it may be getting too warm.  

[Josiah]

I've seen that pic around before, the room temp varries between 60 and 70f but it has acted the same way with the only difference being a bit of time. It looks like the way too hot picture, which seems odd to me because i'm doing what they tell recommend. When it stops is just turns into a rounded blob at the bottom. I even tried a dimmer but if I adjusted it in the slightest it would almost stop dead.

[Keith]

Optimal room temperature for lava lamps is around 72 degrees.  If it stays colder than that is may be too cold.  As a test you can try a 60w bulb, but make sure you keep a close eye on it and turn it off if it overheats, or set it up with the dimmer and adjust it down till it flows properly.

[Josiah]

if it is too cold would it make run for a short amount of time before stopping?

[Keith]

I'm not sure.  Room temperature can make them do strange things.  All I can suggest is to try different things.

[Marley's Ghost]

Josiah, I had some 32 oz. lamps overheating on 40 watt appliance bulbs too.   I bought these adapters and used 30 watt bulbs, which fixed mine.  You might try one out and see if it helps yours.    The link below is for the adapter, I'll have to find the link for the 30 watt bulbs tomorrow if you need it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0074P264W/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_...

[Josiah]

Thanks to both of you.

I saw that 30w reflector bulbs work for some people, do those need the adapter as well?

[Marley's Ghost]

Your Elek-Trick uses a medium base bulb, you need that adapter to fit the socket in your lamp, which then will reduce it down to an intermediate based bulb, which the 30 W reflector is.   That 30 watt reflector bulb might be too hot though.  I used the 30 watt tube type bulbs, they are skinny and tube shaped. I can't remember the proper name, but I'll try to find that for you tomorrow, unless someone here can come up with it before me.  :-)     

[Cody Rankins]

Your lamp sounds about like my red elek trick i dont know if it will help but mine would spike then flow for about an hour then just sit in the bottom of the globe i tried different bulbs and a dimmer on mine none of which helped. When mine started to act up i lifted up my globe and found half of the lava was disconnected from the coil even dimmed down. I turned my lamp off let it cool for 15-30 min and carefully picked it up it was still partially disconnected so i slowly twisted the globe back and forth it roconncted to the coil it flowes good now sorry for the long post.

[Kirk]

I'm testing an A15 30 watt bulb now -- just got them from Norman.  I've included a link to it below.

http://www.normanlamps.com/product_info.php/cPath/66_175/products_i...
http://www.normanlamps.com/product_info.php/cPath/66_175/products_i...
http://www.normanlamps.com/product_info.php/cPath/136/products_id/4986
http://www.normanlamps.com/product_info.php/cPath/480_42/products_i...
http://www.amazon.com/Lutron-TT-300NLH-BL-Credenza-Dimmer-Black/dp/...

[Kirk]

Excellent suggestion!  If it's partially disconnecting from the coil, this trick works.

Cody Rankins said:

Your lamp sounds about like my red elek trick i dont know if it will help but mine would spike then flow for about an hour then just sit in the bottom of the globe i tried different bulbs and a dimmer on mine none of which helped. When mine started to act up i lifted up my globe and found half of the lava was disconnected from the coil even dimmed down. I turned my lamp off let it cool for 15-30 min and carefully picked it up it was still partially disconnected so i slowly twisted the globe back and forth it roconncted to the coil it flowes good now sorry for the long post.

[Marley's Ghost]

Thanks, Kirk!   That's the link I was looking for!    Josiah, it was Kirk who told me about this when my lamps were running too hot, and that's the bulb I was "trying" to describe.  He told me where to get them. 

Yes, if the wax is off the coil, the "gentle spin" trick works most everytime.   I've had to do that many of a time.  GENTLE is the key word here.  The wax is still hot, and you don't want to spin it like a washing machine or you'll ruin it.   Just back and forth a few times and it should re-attach to the coil.
 
Kirk said:

I'm testing an A15 30 watt bulb now -- just got them from Norman.  I've included a link to it below.

http://www.normanlamps.com/product_info.php/cPath/66_175/products_i...
http://www.normanlamps.com/product_info.php/cPath/66_175/products_i...
http://www.normanlamps.com/product_info.php/cPath/136/products_id/4986
http://www.normanlamps.com/product_info.php/cPath/480_42/products_i...
http://www.amazon.com/Lutron-TT-300NLH-BL-Credenza-Dimmer-Black/dp/...