Having a touch lamp is one of the few cool things in life. It isn’t much but does give you the notion of having superpowers.
But as every good thing comes with its downside, the touch lamp also starts to malfunction. One of them is the lamp being possessed by a demon that keeps turning it off and on.
Well, it’s not a demonic possession but a few other explainable reasons. We are going to talk about why your touch lamp turns on and off by itself in the middle of the night.
And you will be amazed how small and unsuspected things are causing this and keeping you up all night.
Why Is Touch Lamp Turning On and off by Itself
Let’s make one thing clear first, your lamp isn’t possessed. And you are not being contacted by any form of spirits.
With that put aside, let’s go through the mechanism of how a touch lamp works.
A touch lamp is equipped with a touch sensor chip. This works with the touch of your hand as electrical energy transfers from your body to the sensor itself.
This in return turns the lamp on and off. The funny thing is the frequency that it works. Yes! It works in an electromagnetic frequency like a radio, microwave, or smartphone device.
The minimal frequency is 60hz, which is very low.
But with that low frequency, anything with the ability to transfer this energy can trigger your touch sensor.
It can be your room’s wifi, smartphone, or even your heater.
Here are a few reasons your touch lamp is getting turned off and on.
Electro Static Charge
As we have said, the touch lamp needs just a 60Hz frequency of electrical charge to activate it. It can be caused by the window curtain, bedsheet, or anything that can store charge in them.
Smartphones and WI-Fi Signals/Networks
Smartphones have a lot of tiny devices in them. And all of them emit frequencies. The device itself works in different network frequencies from cellular networks to wifi. When any of these occur and you place a smartphone beside your lamp, it might cause it to turn on and off.
Metal Objects Laying Around the Lamp
Metal objects make touch sensors go nuts! And with a lot of metal objects around us, they can trigger the touch switch easily. If you don’t have anything metal laying around the lamp, but your bed is made out of metal, then it can also cause this.
Warm Room Temperature
We all use heaters or humidifiers in our rooms depending on the season. The moisture buildup makes it easier for electromagnetic fields to operate. So that can also trigger your lamp’s touch sensor.
The solution to Your Lamps Touch Sensor Turning On and off Accidentally
Removing any electrical devices like smartphones, tabs, wireless earbuds or headphones away helps a lot. They interfere with the frequency and turn your lamp on and off.
But most probably metal objects are the culprit. Anything from vases, cups, and mugs should be put away from the lamp.
If the problem still presets, it is better to take off the sensor and put a manual switch for better operation. Not all modern techs are helpful all the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my touch lamp keep going on and off?
There are many reasons behind your touch lamp keep going on and off by itself. Network interference from smart devices, metal objects, or room temperature plays a vital role in this. Start by putting any metal or electrical objects away from your lamp. If the problem still goes on, you might need to switch to a manual switch for your lamp.
Why did my lamp turn on by itself?
If you have a touch sensor on your lamp, it can be triggered by any electrical frequency. Smart devices do this a lot. If you don’t have a touch switch, then you have a faulty power output. This triggers the lamp’s switch that sends power to the lamp to turn on.
How do I fix my touch lamp?
Normally touch lamps need the touch sensor to be replaced. And once it is damaged, the new touch sensor won’t go much longer before it also dies. So better put on a manual switch which will run much longer than any sensors.
Why does my touch lamp keep flickering?
Touch lamp flickering can mean two things. One, there is electrical interference. Two, there is a surge in your power outlet. The first one is the most common thing with any touch sensor. As they operate at 60Hz frequency, any smart devices like smartphones, tabs, Alexa, or google box can trigger them.
Conclusion
A touch lamp is more of a magic trick and an advanced tech for such a small device. As the sensor is exposed to the temperature and frequency of your room, it can malfunction at any time. High-quality touch sensors are less prone to these troubles. So going for better lamps would be the smart thing to do. Otherwise, you can simply replace your touch sensor button with a manual switch anytime. No more ghostly turn-ons and offs during the night.
