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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Random electrical question


Guigsy

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Right. The answer might be simple but im useless at this kind of thing.

I got a lava lamp for Xmas which was sent to me from someone in the usa. Which is great. I love lava lamps.

It obviously comes with an american plug which isnt a problem because i have a plug converter. But the bulb is rated at 120v (25w) all the stickers in the base say "only use 120v" etc.

Now, can i simply pop out and buy a 240v (25w) bulb like i would use in my other lava lamp and it will all work fine because it will be getting 240v from the plug?

Or will it just fry the wireing anyway?

 

Im guessing i might have to buy a different base + plug but i dont want to as the base is a nice blue colour and ive only ever seen silver ones.

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SUrely if you put in a higher voltage bulb it just wouldn't light and actually be able to get hot enought to heat the fluid?

 

well my thinking is that the bulb is getting the correct voltage anyway after you change it as the wall is 240 and the bulb is rated for 240 not 120. I havent tried anything yet as i dont want to kill myself :p

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:yeahthat:

 

You could risk it and use a 240V bulb connected to our mains, but there is no way of knowing what the insulation on the cable is rated to. Chances are it will work at first, but given time you risk the insulation ageing and breaking down, leading to possible arcing and potential fire.

 

:bang: indeed!

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ok just got one of them adaptor things from maplin...

 

Doesnt work :(

Rated for 45w - which is fine because the lamp is 25w.

The output of the adaptor is 110 which is fine.

Plugged it all in and flipped the switch expecting a light or at the least a fizz noise followed by a pop followed shortly after by smoke however there was nothing.

Checked the adaptor for a seperate power switch or something, which there isnt. There is a power switch on the chord to the lamp but it makes no difference.

 

Bit miffed now. Im gonna take the whole lot down to maplin so i can maybe check in the store i have the right one or if the adaptor i have is broken maybe.

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