Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Help me understand touch lamps & if mine can be repaired

I installed over the headboard of the bed a 3 way 150 watt touch lamp.

Mounts on wall & connects to electric with a hot neutral only no ground plug lamp plug.

worked for 6 months then became stubborn & had to be touched several times to turn on, & now won't turn on at all.

the bulb is good (works in another 3 way lamp)

Do the plastic switches on these things quit & can you buy them at hardware stores?

Only 2 wires travel through the tube to the bulb socket. How can that operate a 3 way socket?

Thanks!

Only 2 wires travel through the tube to the bulb socket. How can that operate a 3 way socket?
Are you sure it uses a three way bulb? Try a regular light bulb. The ones I have seen used a dimmer to give the three levels of light in a regular bulb.

I agree with Ray, as we have the same set up. Regular bulb (not CFL) will work just fine. In dryer weather, your skin is dry, so you may not be making a good contact between your finger and the metal part of the lamp. Also, you will find walking in the room that the light will be on, and you know you didn't turn it on. It will illuminate if things like motor loads or irons, etc. are used on the same circuit by induction in the circuit. Weird, but true.

I have tried using a regular 100watt light bulb as well & it won't turn on. I've long ago tossed the paperwork & box that would of told me what kind of bulb to use.

& yep, I usually have to spit on... whoops, I mean "wet" my finger to get these things to work.

So do you think it could be the switch? (the black plastic box in the wall plate housing with 3 wires one of which is screwed to the metal?

It could be the switch. You can probably find one on line if not locally.

Look in the base of the lamp socket. Is there only one tab and no ring? If so it uses a regular bulb. I'd probably consider using a add-on ceiling fan remote to control it and doing away with the touch switch.

Son of a gun!

Mine has just the tab.

All this time I've been putting a 3 way bulb in.

I wonder if that could have spiked the switch somehow?

I will head to Lowes this weekend & see if they have a replacement switch.

If not, I could always install a simple rotary on off.

I'll let you know how it progresses.

Here's what I did.
I found replacement touch switches on line at a price of $12.
Lowes did not sell them.
The original one in the lamp was about 1 year old.
The lamp cost $45.
Since I did not trust a new switch to last any longer & I did not want to keep throwing good money after bad,
I drilled a hole in the lamp body & installed a simple rotary on off switch.
My kid can read in bed, there's no more spit on the brass lamp, & I'm only out $4. for the new switch.

Sounds like a good solution. Thanks for posting back.