Lava lamps have been in the household for a very long time. Discovered accidentally in 1963 in the UK, the formula quickly made its way to the States.
And ever since, it has been a part of the lamp scene. Although it was called Astro in the beginning, the old-timer has named a Lava lamp for its actual presentation.
The lava lamp is a simple construction of liquids and a halogen or incandescent bulb on the bottom. This liquid contains natural oils with wax in them. To make the wax go even lighter and denser than water, carbon tetrachloride was used in the beginning.
But for its toxic nature, it was banned from using lava lamps in 1970. Since then there is a secret ingredient in them not disclosed by the manufacturer.
There is an obvious question among users and new buyers how many watts does a lava lamp use? Well, we are going to talk about that today.
How Many Watts Does a Lava Lamp Use
People who are using or will be using a lava lamp are divided into two groups today. One says that a lava lamp uses a high wattage making it one of the electric bill builders with time. As the lamp generates heat to melt the wax inside of it to make all those floaty effects, it is understandable.
Another group is saying it is not true at all. As the wax inside is coated with other chemical elements that help it melt faster, the lava lamp doesn’t use much wattage. Which is also a reliable explanation.
The truth behind it is pretty simple. There are different types, shapes, and sizes of lava lamps in the market. Depending on the size and wattage of the bulb, it uses different wattages.
Depending on the Size the Wattage of Every Lava Lamp
You will find small lava lamps that are 4-5 inches long, they use a 15W bulb. Not necessarily that big, a 6-inch lava lamp uses a 25W bulb.
Medium-size lava lamps that are about 8 inches will use a 30W bulb. And large size devices will use 40W to 100W.
Depending on how long you will use it, it will determine the cost of electric bills. Also, lava lamps that are plugged in but not turned on will use electricity. If you didn’t know that, it is a good time to remember this.
So if you are going out on vacation, unplug your lava lamp. You don’t want to face a bill that you didn’t get to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What wattage does a lava lamp use?
Different sizes of lava lamps use different wattages of electricity. For instance, a 5-6 inch lava lamp will use a 15W-25W bulb. Medium-size lamps will use 30W-40W. And larger devices can go up to 100W.
Do lava lamps use much power?
Lava lamps use incandescent bulbs. As it requires heat to melt the wax inside it to cause the effect in the fluid mixture. Incandescent bulbs are known to be power-hungry. And there is no alternative to them. So yes, lava lamps use a lot of power just like a heating lamp.
Can I use a 40-watt bulb in a lava lamp?
If you have a medium size lava lamp, which is 5-6 inches in size, then you can use a 40-watt bulb. A size bigger than that will leave you with fewer wax bubbles as it won’t be sufficient to produce the right amount of heat.
Can I use a 25-watt bulb in a 20-watt lava lamp?
Yes. You can use a 25-watt bulb in a 20-watt lava lamp. It not only matters for the wattage in a lava lamp but also the size of the whole fluid structure. If the fluid bottle is small to medium size like 6 inches, then a 25-watt bulb will work fine in them.
Conclusion
Lava lamps are more of an art piece to your home. It not only provides you with a calm light but also works as a meditation device. So if you are thinking of getting one but are afraid of its power consumption, don’t be. Because as long as you unplug it after use, it won’t bear heavily on your bills. As lava lamps keep on consuming power even if it is not turned on, it is necessary to unplug them every time you don’t want to use them.
