Sauvons la lampe lava / Save the lava lamp
The lamp lava requires light and heat, it is condemned by the disgrace of incandescent bulbs. How to save this must-have geekery?
A well-working lava lamp requires an incandescent bulb that heats the bottom of the bottle, where a closed ring spring forces the lava to spread over the entire bottom, what causes the heat to propel it into eruptions. The proper adjustment of the equilibrium temperature, so that the wax falls down regularly, is also quite complex.
The light can be provided by LEDs, the real problem is this homogeneous and transparent heat source.
But precisely this challenge can allow an energy optimization and at the same time allow to transform into custom lava lamps glass containers with original shapes.
In the principle it only means to stick some heating element (coil of resistive wire ?) on the glass and provide some current regulation, maybe driven by a temperature sensor... This could be worth a summer circuit.
Then it can become more sophisticated and anyway it is more than only pure electronics.
Do you like it ?
Thank you.
The light can be provided by LEDs, the real problem is this homogeneous and transparent heat source.
But precisely this challenge can allow an energy optimization and at the same time allow to transform into custom lava lamps glass containers with original shapes.
In the principle it only means to stick some heating element (coil of resistive wire ?) on the glass and provide some current regulation, maybe driven by a temperature sensor... This could be worth a summer circuit.
Then it can become more sophisticated and anyway it is more than only pure electronics.
Do you like it ?
Thank you.
Discussion (3 comments)
Zener131 6 years ago
https://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/l-industrie-c-est-fou-cette-start-up-donne-une-seconde-vie-inattendue-aux-lampes-a-lave-des-annees-70.N726199
ClemensValens 6 years ago
Peter Schoone 6 years ago
https://youtu.be/GOiZynTiysw
ClemensValens 6 years ago
ClemensValens 6 years ago
Zener131 6 years ago
With the recipe I describe above, the equilibrium can be found, operating at nominal temperature, by finally adding tetrachloroethylene to the wax with a syringe until the magma slowly sinks. The 2 liquids will never mix.
Then in case there was too much, a little salt can correct the water but it quickly makes it trouble.
Alcohol or any other fuel is dangerous considering the nominal temperature. Maybe rather use some oil, but another problem is that it can stick to the glass.
We must also consider the bubble at the top of the bottle, depending on the liquids it may become ugly, and also cause leaks.
For the resistor, I was thinking about a resistive wire, then the best glue to stick it to the glass so that it keeps translucent and resists to the temperature is the real question.
About the wax, candle wax when melt appears to be not as nice as the candle. Another solution is to use paraffin, usually white, and add paint dye (use pastry dye for colouring the water).
But anyway there are websites with very clear solutions for the chemical part. The only problem is to find the products, as the essential ones were banned for various reasons. Of course you must not drop that to the sink...
Richard Davies 6 years ago
This project is only a afternoon job to test your/our theory,
1. Stick a resistor to botton of glass.
2. Use a variable PSU to get desired effect.
3. Do some maths and replace resistor for the PSU you will be using, (say a 5V USB)
4. Add LEDs
The biggest problem is getting the right 'wax'. melting point etc. but it could be liquid all the time, just needs to change in density at a different rate with temperature than the liquid it is suspended in.
Update-- Just did a test. Candle wax sinks in IPA, so a mix of alcohol and water might do the trick (did not check to see if wax would dissolve in IPA). And candle wax has a too higher melting point (I think).
Zener131 6 years ago
There are good websites about DIY lava lamps, with various recipes to have 2 immiscible fluids. Some crazy people use water and some fuel (to be heated around 90°C, sic !), then the best solution is to use water and wax, but since the wax density is ~0.7, it must be mixed with some heavy solvent, like tetrachloroethylene... With also a drop of dishwashing liquid to adjust the size of the wax bubbles. To be done at established working temperature. I did it and it works fine.
Maybe other solutions could be found that work at a lower temperature. There are sealed plastic deco objects with such a couple of fluids inside, but I don't know what it is. And would such fluids behave as lava, this is not sure.
Then the goal could be to create new original lava lamps this way (the creative way), or to convert existing ones once the light bulbs they need have been banned, what should happen soon. This is the main goal of this project, and actually the most electronic part.