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-   -   How to get floor lamp to work with a 3 way bulb (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=396724)

  • Sep 15, 2009, 05:05 PM
    stacysokol
    How to get floor lamp to work with a 3 way bulb
    I have a floor lamp with a knob that has three clicks, so I know that a 3 way bulb is supposed to work in it. However, the only light that works in the 3 way bulbs is in the middle click position. How can I get the fixture to work properly with the 3 way bulbs?
  • Sep 15, 2009, 05:15 PM
    hkstroud

    Are you sure that the bulb is good. Three way bulbs have two filaments in them. Click one turns on the first, usually 50 watt filament, click two turns on the next or 100 watt filament. Click three turns on both filaments. The low or 50 watt filament is always the first to go because it gets used more that the 100 watt. The light will still burn on the 100 watt filament.
  • Sep 15, 2009, 07:04 PM
    stacysokol
    Yes, I am positive that the bulb is good. I have already used one 3 way bulb and it burned out today. I replaced the bulb with another 3 way bulb, and this one doesn't work either. Both bulbs only worked on the second click.
  • Sep 15, 2009, 07:36 PM
    medic-dan

    Could be a bad connection.

    Unplug the lamp, take out the bulb and look at the socket. You should see two contacts in there (the third is the screw part). Make sure they're clean and shiny, use a pencil eraser if you have to to clean them. If either of them is burned pretty bad, replace the socket.
  • Sep 15, 2009, 07:50 PM
    hkstroud

    I'd say replace the socket then. Cheap and easy to do.
  • Jun 14, 2010, 12:07 PM
    sandy_swiss
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  • Jun 14, 2010, 06:34 PM
    Missouri Bound
    Stacy... how do you know it's a 3 way lamp? Every lamp has three clicks... or 20... as many as you want to turn it.
  • Jan 3, 2011, 05:45 PM
    Stratmando

    Missouri, I was thinking the same thing, a lamp that has 3 clicks, also has 2 clicks?
    For sure, verify it is a 3 way socket, then you can do 1 of 2 things, check voltage at the socket or measure the resistance of the 2 elements.
  • Jan 3, 2011, 05:52 PM
    Stratmando

    sandy_swiss, I notice you provide links on all your post, selling, how much can you make like that?

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