Pipe lamp for a daughter.

[Mike_J]

In Houston this week helping one of my daughters with a new home purchase. Now she has a desk that looks like a miniature version of the one in the Oval Office. What does she want to go with it but a pipe lamp with One inch pipe and a hose bib to turn the lamp on and off. Any suggestions would be appreciated as of course I will be the builder of this lamp.


Some thoughts I have had are to use a 50 foot, 14awg extension cord for the wire. That way it has a three wire cord and is long enough that I could run a lot of ground wire through it so if someone tripped over it the last wire that could be disconnected would be the ground to earth.


She is looking for an industrial look. I took a picture of her general idea but won’t be able to post it until I get home. Will use a hose bib for a switch handle and would like to be able to have a dimmer switch controlled by it Would be surprised if anyone ever heard of such a thing but what the majority of you know about is electricity, electronics and the like.


Thanks
Mike

[Mike_J]

I was trying to send a picture of the skeleton of this pipe lamp but alas I fear my laptop has suffered frostbite from our recent trip to Texas and has died. So I have decided to try to explain it to you for the time being.


Of course the picture is on this same phone I am using which I once sent to my now departed laptop where it was downloaded so it could be attached to the post. Now I am lost because I don’t know how to do the same thing with just my phone.


Would like help with one other thing as well if someone could be so kind. I want a snippet of the part in “It’s a wonderful life” where Mr Potter says “not with my money.” I promise to use it frequently and mix in a “come on man” as an old demented clown might say in now and then just to break things up.


Sorry, fear I haven’t fully recovered from the effects of my trip to Texas earlier this week. Anyway, back to the purpose of this post.


So picture this. A pipe lamp made from one inch black pipe, tees and elbows. Has a base as all lamps that don’t keep falling over do. Now to the more interesting things. One of these black pipes goes up to what they are calling a “Brass Water Meter Lamp Midsection.”


Let me describe this thing for you. Back in the 1950s they apparently made these brass water meters. Well no longer needed for that purpose some enterprising gentleman decided hey I can change that meter into an analog clock with a 300 watt rotary switch,grounded AC outlet, 18 watt USB charging port and matching dimmer switch. A thing of beauty that would draw the attention of any millennial.


On top of that work of art we have three Edison bulbs, covered by attractive baskets, a  contraption to hold her phone while it is charging and my favorite a 150 volt brass AC meter which will come in handy when all her neighbors buy electric cars and she can watch the AC meter go down to zero as the supply lines melt. <Not with my money.>


This thing will cost more than any amp I ever made and I will fall for any shiny object to put in one of my amps.

[Mike_J]

Now I remember why I started this in the first place. When I started this my daughter hadn’t discovered this contraption with a light switch in it so that question is covered by the switch in the contraption.


Next thing to consider is how to get power to this lamp without getting my little girl electrocuted. Again partially saved by the contraption. It has a grounded AC outlet and 14/3 pig tail which can be connected to the 14/3 modified extension cord which will be secured by one of Doug’s power cord clamps. Figure it is best to have the green ground wire at least a few inches longer than the black and white wires for a little extra safety.


Now where I need more help. Black and white 16awg wires come out of the other end of the contraption. These wires are to feed three bulbs and the AC meter. My question is how would you wire the connections for the bulbs and AC meter? I can think of two ways. One is solder the wires together and cover with heat shrink tubing and another is wire nuts supported by electrical tape. I think there might be those butt together things that you crimp and heat shrink. Haven’t seen anything like that but haven’t looked either. Daughter has the 14awg butt to butt crimp connectors but she would only be able to use one of those where the pig tail meets the incoming AC cord. Especially concerned about the three wires coming together.


Thanks
Mike

[Mike_J]

My wife taught me how to post pictures from my phone. Will save me a lot of time especially in my time of grief from the passing of my laptop. So here is the picture of the skeleton of the pipe lamp.

[shooter]

I got a Win7 notepad, a Win95 & 98 laptop, all work, batteries need replacing let me know 


nice lamp, even looks like it could double as home protection if someone gets close

[Mike_J]

I got a Win7 notepad, a Win95 & 98 laptop, all work, batteries need replacing let me know 


nice lamp, even looks like it could double as home protection if someone gets close

Going to top out at about 100 pounds. She will need a lot of time in the gym if she is going to use her lamp for protection.