How to make a Color Change lamp

[Claude J]

This is a somewhat tossed together tutorial, but those with some electrical experience will understand.

For others, I have a couple lamps for sale that are already converted.

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For starters, you need to remove the fellt on the bottom, remove the lamp socket, remove the existing power cord and punch a larger hole into the base to accept an 8 conductor/16ga cable and cable restraint.

If you plan on painting it a custom color, now would be the time to do that prior to reassembly.

You will no longer be heating the lava with a light bulb, you will be using a reptile heater.

Make sure you purchase an extra one as the shipper doesn't always package these for shipment very well.

Also, make sure your size is the proper wattage for the lamp base you are deciding to use

Century take a 50/100Watt
Grandes take a 150Watt

Ebay link HERE

I have extra Century sized heaters is anyone needs one and doesn't want to wait 4/6 weeks to get one from China.

In fact, I have a LOT OF EXTRA PARTS!

BEWARE: when reassembling, make sure the heater is the proper distance from the bottom of the base of the globe  (@1/2" for heritage and @3/4" for Grandes) or this could happen to you!

Then, locate the appropriate RBG LED ring to purchase that fits the particular rim of the lamp you are trying to convert.

DO NOT buy the LED ring with the remote, they are IR controlled and work like crap, are designed for multiple rings and are IR controlled.

DO NOT buy COG rings as they cannot handle the heat

Grande =144mm

Heritage =70mm (Far Right_

Notice the 3M double sided automotive tape applied to the back so it will mount to the flange of the Lamp. You WILL have to notch the lamp flange so the wires clear the base

RF remote

The Grande is the easiest to convert. You can fit all components in the aluminum base.

For other lamps, I suggest that all controls for the lamp will be in a module located on a shelf near the lamp.

Any hobby box would do-even a cheapo plastic one as long as there is ventilation. 

This particular module I built is for my Lunar Conversion.

(I have an extra for sale)

Notice the tightly designed location of the cooling fan

And the exhaust ventilation

The inner workings

Front

The meter measures the amount of voltage going to the heater because you no longer have a light bulb to use as a reference. An incandescent panel lamp would accomplish the same thing but you know me,.. everything is overkill/overengineered

Back

Yes, I could have gotten away with just drilling a round hole for a cord restraint for the power cord,  but what fun would that be?

Besides this fuses the input line

Yes, it's a bit overkill.

As far as size, Its larger than a LUNAR dimmer but is located in a similar fashion.

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RECAP

You have FIVE main components

Reptile heater (Grande size is shown)

RGB LED RINGS  (Red Blue Green-4 wire)

Dimmer (I use a small footprint 100Watt 230v=500Watt 120v SCR)

Power supply/driver (120VAC to 12VDC 5amp/60watt)

60 watt is overkill but it is better to be safe by running electrical components cooler from demanding less capacity

Remote control receiver -I prefer Radio Frequency (RF) and not InfraRed (IR)

Goo Kit Globe with Fluorescent dye

ASSEMBLY

Wiring is pretty simple.
You tap the 120V  for the input of the power supply/driver at the point of where the line voltage is going to the input of the dimmer. 

The output of the dimmer, of course, goes to the Reptile heater to adjust the flow.

The 12VAC output of the Power Supply/driver goes to the 12VDC input of the RF controller.

The output wires of the RF controller (4) go to the RBG LED ring

For those of you that are still totally lost as to how to do all this or all thumbs when it comes to tools,, I have several Grandes for sale, that are already converted with internal components.

They include the correct dye and goo added to the refurbished globe

These are turnkey lamps and packed ready to ship for $225+shipping

PM me

[Bohdan]

What a fantastic topic!!

[Claude J]

Thanks!

Now, if I could only sell 2 of these to cover at least 1/2 of my R&D and parts costs?..LOL

[Claude J]

I have two color change conversion kits available for Grandes

(does not include goo)

 

Convert you're grande into a remote controlled color change lamp.

From your recliner, you can select from Jump, Fade, Static, Flash, Slide, or Strobe.

Select from a variety of colors. RBGYW-UV

Suggested goo (not included) is a quart of Magnatower goo and blue Ultraviolet dye but any white goo will do.

Prewired Kit includes:

• 150 Watt heater
• Remote Control
• Controller (3 AAA batteries not included )
• Power supply
• LED ring (Includes 3M mounting tape)
• 500 Watt Dimmer
• All prewired with labeled wires (not shown in photos below), and ready to install.

The average time for installation is 1 hr

Includes phone support for installation

$100 shipped to lower 48

Also, I have 1 and only 1 Color-change conversion module shown above specifically designed for a Lunar for sale
Requires some soldering to install

All installation parts supplied

Price $250 o.b.o. / partial trade

[Claude J]

I have two color change conversion kits available for Grandes

(does not include goo)

 

Convert you're grande into a remote controlled color change lamp.

From your recliner, you can select from Jump, Fade, Static, Flash, Slide, or Strobe.

Select from a variety of colors. RBGYW-UV

Suggested goo (not included) is a quart of Magnatower goo and blue Ultraviolet dye but any white goo will do.

Prewired Kit includes:

• 150 Watt heater
• Remote Control
• Controller (3 AAA batteries not included )
• Power supply
• LED ring (Includes 3M mounting tape)
• 500 Watt Dimmer
• All prewired with labeled wires (not shown in photos below), and ready to install.

The average time for installation is 1 hr

Includes phone support for installation

$100 shipped to lower 48

Pics below

Also, I have 1 and only 1 Color-change conversion module shown above specifically designed for a Lunar for sale (SEE PICS ABOVE)
Requires some soldering to install

All installation parts supplied

Price $250 o.b.o. / partial trade

[Claude J]

Price reduced to $75 on Grande Color change kits (includes heater)

Complete color change Grande Lamp reduced to $200+ship (only 1 left)

Mathmos Lunar color change conversion kit reduced to $150+ship (Only 1 produced for sale)