So, while I was out treasure hunting, I found this mushroom glitter lamp. From my research, it sounds like it is from the 70's. Everything looks fantastic, no breaks or cracks or anything. On the bottom of the lamp there an on/off switch and a hole that I am assuming is for an ac adapter, above the hole it says 1000mA and below AC 12V, but no ac adapter chord was included. When i opened her up to see if it was battery operated, I found a motor and a 12v 10w small light bulb. I am assuming the bulb is blown, but how can I be sure it's working if I have no adapter. Will any ac adapter work? I have attached some pictures. Any advice would be extremely helpful as I would love to get her working again.

Thank you!
-A<img src="https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/2000x2000/img_9962_b35fd468fec3f958952c5ac231357b75c339dae9.jpg" width="2000" height="2000"/>
<img src="https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/2000x2000/img_9963_2e2872c3c4ed4fc17d6dd02c04928d229e0a3552.jpg" width="2000" height="2000"/>
<img src="https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/2000x2000/img_9958_60d2408bf2d340f0ceced303ef1fd50f3db30d70.jpg" width="2000" height="2000"/>
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<img src="https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/2000x2000/img_9960_53cbc16d406341ac3348fb4b8ae04171a8129c5e.jpg" width="2000" height="2000"/>
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<img src="https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/916x1278/screen_shot_2020_11_30_at_9_01_13_am_42bcfdf59f4162e08ec033932c193bf719cb49c1.png" width="916" height="1278"/>

 

Type "12v ac 1000ma power adaptor" into search bar. You will be able to locate a verity of different power adaptors to choose from.
The hard part is determining what size the connector on the base is. I think the normal is either 21. or 2.5 mm, which means you will need a female plug on the end of the adaptor of the correct size.

You can also find these adaptors at many thrift or second hand stores. If possible, take the base of the lamp with you to ensure the connector size matches. The transformer portion of the adaptor will have the power specs printed on it.

<img src="https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/155x100/untitled_d5c5cf6ca9b6a1dd25c8c5e300191321495fa8f2.jpg" width="155" height="100"/>

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH. This was so very helpful. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me out.

-A

 

If you can't figure out the connector size, something like this could work too. It's 12v @ 1A (1,000mA) and has a bunch of adapters for whatever size plug you might have.

https://www.amazon.com/SoulBay-Adapt.../dp/B07C75RT38

 

awoodw1 You'll have to post a picture when you get it working....

Good luck!

 

That is neat find!
I don't think it is from the 1970's though as the "Made In China" tag started from the early 1980's and up and is on pretty much everything these days.

Also as much as I hate everything LED this is a good place for one as the heat is lower as is the power draw, everything else LED sucks but low intensity such as nightlights and indicator lamps (the original purpose of LEDs) are fine.

Also "Cord" not "Chord" unless you are talking about a musical note or Chord

 

Thank you for my poor spelling mistakes. Apologies! Thanks for all of the advice! And the motor says 2005 so maybe it’s not as old as initially thought. I put the new bulb in and have been testing (I think) applicable cOrds/adapters with no luck.

stay tuned
- A

 

Well does the motor spin or just the light or nothing? Those slide style switches are know for being extremely poor quality and design. It looks like a SPST switch (just two wires) to rule out the switch as an issue take a small screw driver (basically anything metal will work) and bridge the two contacts on the switch, if it works that switch is the issue. Since this is AC polarity does not matter try a bigger power adapter and also check for any damaged or broken wires on the light and/or motor.

 

So i changed out the bulb, and have tried multiple adapters and nothing happens. I thought for a split second i thought i heard the motor turn on with one of the adapters but then it would stop immediately, so i didn't know if it was my brain playing tricks on me or the motor trying to run. So in regards to the switch, the two wires on back of the on/off switch seem to each be soldered to their own metal piece, much like the inner part of the adapter. So i don't think i can remove them. No wires look damaged or loose or fraying in anyway. At this point, I just want to fix it because I am determined and always up for a challenge, but if there's no hope I will stop wasting my time. I just think it would work if I knew what I was doing ha. Here are some pics i took of what it looks like behind the switch.
<img src="https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/2000x2000/img_9977_939d1aaf391f98011e81aea188985534fb58dc5f.jpg" width="2000" height="2000"/>
<img src="https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.doityourselft.com-vbulletin/2000x2000/img_9983_ef244e2930b1783c4ff2a45840245cde594ed159.jpg" width="2000" height="2000"/>
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Do you have a multi meter or voltage tester so you can check to see if power is making it to the motor and light? Those lamps are really simple; switch, motor & lamp. If the switch is bad you can replace it with a new one or just go without and have a switch on the power supply. If power is getting to the motor then it could be bad. They never were high quality. You probably won't find a exact replacement but there are plenty of other gear motors you could make work.

 

The switch could be bad as I said it is low voltage so take anything metal and short (connect) the two contacts together.

Also make sure the adapter is in fact putting out AC current and not DC as most of "wall-wort" style adapters are AC-DC converters and you need an AC-AC adapter but most modern electronic gadgets need DC current.

Those small gear motors are commonly known as "Synchronous motors" they are most commonly used as the turntable motor in microwave ovens you know the motor that makes the glass plate spin around (round round like a record baby). make sure to get a 12VAC one with an RPM rating close to what the original one was. Those motors can be had on eBay Amazon and the China market place sites whose name escapes my mind ali-something?

 

aliexpress! and do you think someone like me, not so tech savvy when it comes to electronics, and certainly not motors, could replace the motor myself?

Every adapter I have tried does not work, i replaced the bulb, so now Im going to move on to the motor. Thanks for your advice, i really do appreciate it.

I don't even care about the lamp that much, im determined to fix it though.

Thank you again,
- A

 

Do you have a multi meter? Are you able to test for AC/DC and voltage? It would make diagnosing your project very easy.

Replacing the motor is electrically easy. It's a simple thing but I doubt you will find a exact replacement motor. The mounting holes will be in a different location. You'd have to fabricate or print a way to mount the motor and maybe get creative to mount the color wheel. Check out this DC gearmotor page at Surplus Center. They have many motors that could be made to work. But, if you can't test to know what parts are wrong with your light, you are just throwing parts & money at it.

 

@ Pilot Dane a DC motor would probably be better anyway as most (but not all) Wall-wort AC adapters are really AC-DC switching power supplies and DC would also make it easier to swap the halogen lamp to an LED incandescent lamps can use AC or DC they don't care so you can even use the same lamp.

@awoodw1 did you check the switch as I stated though? Also does the adapters cord fit snugly and not loose in the socket on the lamp?