Is it possible to convert a touch-activated lamp to a lamp with a physical switch?

[u/Katze08]

I'd like to bypass the touch-sensitive circuitry in this lamp and replace it with a simple, standard on/off switch, effectively turning it into a lamp controlled by a physical toggle or push-button. Would anyone know if this is possible please?

[u/Jeff_72]

Yes it is possible … unplug the unit. Remove the board with wire snips. The brown and red wires will goto your new switch (must be rated for the voltage and amperage). Cap off the blue and black wires individually. Make sure the blue wire never gets exposed.

If this is not clear… do not attempt this!

[u/Katze08 → u/Jeff_72]

Thank you so much, I will buy a switch and do as you explained or ask a friend who has experience to do it for me.

[u/agate_ → u/Jeff_72]

Confirming these instructions. Connecting brown to red ("L" to "LP") will turn the lamp on.

It might be worthwhile to remove the heat-shrink, remove the board and its colored wires completely, and connect the switch to the power cord and bulb wire directly. But that's harder to explain on Reddit than "red" and "brown".

[u/Katze08 → u/agate_]

I’m a little impatient as the switch came today. Instead of waiting until next week to give the light to a friend, any chance you can draw me a diagram and I’ll give it a go myself. I’ve not done this before but able to put a computer together.

https://i.imgur.com/iBW8rMS.jpeg

[u/SlavicMetalhead → u/Jeff_72]

He could also just bypass the wires inside the lamp and add an inline switch on the cable itself. Might be easier than installing a switch in the case...

[u/Katze08 → u/SlavicMetalhead]

That’s what I’m trying to do, would like the switch on the power cable.

[u/Katze08 → u/Katze08]

https://i.imgur.com/NnINrbf.jpeg

[u/BigPurpleBlob → u/Katze08]

What stops the circuit board from contacting the metal base of the lamp?

[u/Katze08 → u/BigPurpleBlob]

It’s got a black box covering it which I’ve took off

[u/Katze08 → u/SlavicMetalhead]

If I was going to do this myself today what would be the easiest way? I could wait till I go work and pass it over to a friend who knows this stuff

[u/Katze08 → u/Jeff_72]

I’m a little impatient as the switch came today. Instead of waiting until next week to give the light to a friend, any chance you can draw me a diagram and I’ll give it a go myself. I’ve not done this before but able to put a computer together.

https://i.imgur.com/iBW8rMS.jpeg

[u/morto00x]

Does it use regular light bulbs? You can just cut the wires going into the PCBA to totally bypass it. Use a wire nut to join the neutrals, and a lamp switch to join the hot. If the lamp offers it, join the ground tonthe body.

Also, since this is r/askelectronics, remember that neutral is the return path. Not ground.

[u/ReaperGod245 → u/morto00x]

This is the answer...

[u/heathenyak]

Yes it’s possible, I converted a non touch lamp into a touch lamp and the touch sensor had a wire that you grounded to the ground plane of the lamp to get the touch to work so it’s possible, but you’re going to have to test. At the end of the day all a switch does is interrupt power, cut the circuit. You’ll want to do some reading on the safest ways to do this don’t just read our comments and trust them.

[u/WasteAd2082]

Short brown and red wires and check with ohmmeter if you see the bulb resistance, like some tens to hundreds ohms depending on bulb wattage(measure the bulb first and validate colors i choosed). You should get the same value. And remove the board

[u/WasteAd2082 → u/WasteAd2082]

And if it works you put a switch between those colors

[u/Katze08]

Thank you all that replied and helped me. I have asked a friend to do the rewiring. I have ordered one of these switches.

[u/Similar_Cheesecake91]

Rip out the touch center components and wire in a hard switch

[u/TPIRocks]

Anyone know why they used an "expensive" toroid inductor? I've used a ton of capacitor touch sensors and none needed a big inductor to work.

[u/rel25917 → u/TPIRocks]

Probably part of the power supply for the ic.

[u/Katze08]

So do I connect the red and brown wires like the diagram I made on the right? and the loose blue wire just cap it?

[u/Katze08 → u/Katze08]

u/Jeff_72

[u/Jeff_72 → u/Katze08]

Yes