The torchiere is a popular floor standing indirect lamp. Unfortunately, most use a high wattage Type 'T' lamp that is extremely hot in use. I have seen several warnings about these type lamps causing fires. And they are very inefficient. This will show how I converted my 300 Watt lamp to an energy efficient and cool 20 Watt CFL type bulb for less than $10 in parts.This modification results in a savings of 280 Watts. With the addition of the second 20 watt CFL, the savings comes down to only 260 Watts.
As these lamps may differ from the one I used, please use these instructions as a general guide and not an exact procedure.
This should not be attempted by anyone unfamiliar with the safety precautions required when working with high voltage.
After I finished this, I found almost the same thing already on the site By McSensei. However, as mine is slightly different, I will leave it.
I have added a second 20 Watt CFL at the suggestion of lemonie - Now with twice the light
As these lamps may differ from the one I used, please use these instructions as a general guide and not an exact procedure.
This should not be attempted by anyone unfamiliar with the safety precautions required when working with high voltage.
After I finished this, I found almost the same thing already on the site By McSensei. However, as mine is slightly different, I will leave it.
I have added a second 20 Watt CFL at the suggestion of lemonie - Now with twice the light
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The torchiere is an indirect light, shining a powerful cone of light off of the ceiling and walls. It is also an extremely hot lamp, making the protective cage seen over the bulb necessary. At 300 Watts it is probably the biggest energy hog of any of my light fixtures. And as you can see, it gives off a fairly harsh light when viewed directly.
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A circuit composed solely of components connected in series is known as a series circuit; likewise, one connected completely in parallel is known as a parallel circuit.
In a series circuit, the current through each of the components is the same, and the voltage across the circuit is the sum of the voltages across each component.[1] In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each of the components is the same, and the total current is the sum of the currents through each component.[3]
As an example, consider a very simple circuit consisting of four light bulbs and one 6 V battery. If a wire joins the battery to one bulb, to the next bulb, to the next bulb, to the next bulb, then back to the battery, in one continuous loop, the bulbs are said to be in series. If each bulb is wired to the battery in a separate loop, the bulbs are said to be in parallel. If the four light bulbs are connected in series, there is same current through all of them, and the voltage drop is 1.5 V across each bulb, which may not be sufficient to make them glow. If the light bulbs are connected in parallel, the currents through the light bulbs combine to form the current in the battery, while the voltage drop is 6.0 V across each bulb and they all glow.
In a series circuit, every device must function for the circuit to be complete. One bulb burning out in a series circuit breaks the circuit. In parallel circuits, each light has its own circuit, so all but one light could be burned out, and the last one will still function.
That wasn't too difficult
In short, if you do not know what the heck you are doing, DO NOT DO IT!
The guy is putting safety first like a responsible adult SHOULD.
To explain the difference between series & parallel, one has to start from the begining of electrical technology & progress from there.
In English, that means that when you first started going to school at the age of about 5 or 6 yrs old, you went to kindergarden or 1st grade, not Yale college.
I support the author & how he has written this. He is trying to cover your butt so to speak because there are idiots in the world that will try anything even if & when they do not have a clue what they are doing or getting themselves into.
If you look at the date stamps, most of these comments are a couple of years old. And If they choose to not take my advice, Well, I tried to warn them. Maybe I need a legal disclaimer. Unfortunately, you cannot teach either common sense or basic wiring practices with an instructable. For the basics of wiring, you need a small book, for common sense, either you have it - or you don't.
Bben's legal disclaimer - just like the big companies use to hold down the lawsuits by people who do dumb things: Do this at your own risk, I cannot be responsible for your lack of knowledge or common sense. Electricity can shock, kill, cause serious burns and fires if this is not done carefully or properly. Be afraid, or at least respect electricity. If you do actually understand electricity you will be afraid. I have been working with it for 48 Years - and I am afraid of it. That's what has kept me alive all this time.
With any wiring, no matter how much you think you know, or how simple the project, always double check before throwing the power on - the life you save may be your own.
Years ago, I had bought not one but several books on Electricity...unfortunately, I lost them in a divorce(she tossed them in the trash) I still remember SOME of the stuff I read, but not not all. Anyway, my point is, I have always been afraid of electricity & always stay away from anything I am not sure of. I'll install light switches in walls, outlets, GFCI's, but when it comes to serious wiring(like running wire from room to room, adding a circuit, etc) that's when I'll have no problem calling for help from an electrician.
Making & rewiring a lamp is easy for me as I have done it so many times, but like you say, I ALWAYS double or triple check my work B4 plugging it in.
I TY Sir for sharing this instructable for it has given me the ideas I need to switch my torch lamp over from what it is now to the corkscrew bulbs you show in the instructable.
Take Care Sir & God Bless. :)
I think you did a great job of explaining everything & the pics reinforced that.
5 stars Sir.. TY.
If you do not know the difference between series & parallel, then you should NOT be messing around with electricity. PERIOD.
Again, just another thought, brain fart suggestion etc.
But what I do to keep all the wires where they belong, is I put a wee bit of flux & solder on just the end of the wires. not a lot, just enough to hold all the teeny tiny strands of wire together, then after it cools enough to handle, THEN I wrap it around the screw. For me, it makes for a nicer looking contact AND a safer one.
Again, just a thought
I too have one of these 300W lamps & I'm trying to talk my roommate into letting me convert it to a lower wattage bulb...
I took one of these apart recently as I needed the dimmer for a project and the way the wire inside was twisted from being assembled scared me to death. Also the insulation had been scraped down to the wire in 3 places. Fire Starter anyone?