Electric Lamp: On the festival of Diwali, traditional clay lamps with ghee or oil are seen burning in every home. Divya has special importance in this festival of illumination. As everything is becoming hi-tech with time, Diwali lamps have also become smart. Along with earthen lamps, water-burning electric lamps are also available in abundance in the market today. They look similar to ordinary lamps, but neither oil nor cotton wicks are required. Surprisingly, there is no button to turn it on or off. As soon as a spoonful of water is added to it, it starts to glow automatically. Usually electronic items are damaged by water, but this lamp works only with water. A very smart yet simple technology works behind this.
A smart electronic circuit hidden in a small lamp
Inside this tiny water-burning lamp is no big machine, but a smart electronic circuit. If this lamp is looked at carefully from above, a small LED light can be seen in the middle. Two small metal points or pins are visible right next to this light. In technology parlance, these two pins are called electrodes or water sensors.
The small button cell battery used in the clock is hidden in the lower part of the lamp. When the lamp is dry, one wire from the battery remains connected to the LED bulb, but the other wire remains incomplete due to the gap between those two metal pins. It is called open circuit. As long as there is no contact between the two pins, the current from the battery does not reach the bulb. For this reason, when the lamp is dry, it remains off.
Minerals present in water form the bridge of flow
As soon as water is poured into the lamp, the whole game begins. Many natural minerals like calcium, magnesium, sodium are mixed in the ordinary water that comes to our homes. In the language of science, these microscopic elements are called ions. When some water is poured inside the lamp, the water sinks the two metal pins together. These minerals present in the water begin to act as a bridge between the two pins.
However, only a very light current can pass through the water. To solve this problem, a small transistor is also installed inside the lamp. This transistor instantly captures the slightest signal from the water. After this, acting like a main switch, it sends the full power of the battery to the LED bulb. Thus, with the addition of water, the circuit is completed, causing the lamp to light immediately.
Why does this lamp not work in RO water?
Often a question comes in people’s minds that can water be poured into this lamp? If distilled water used in the battery or highly filtered RO water is added to it, it is possible that the lamp may not light at all or may burn very dimly. The reason for this is obvious. Natural minerals are lost from over-filtered water. Due to the absence of minerals, current cannot pass through water. If ever such a problem occurs, adding a pinch of salt to the water works instantly.
Easy way to turn off battery backup
These high-tech lamps use LED technology, which consumes negligible electricity. Three small button cells inside it easily provide 40 to 50 hours of continuous backup. When the lamp has to be switched off, the method is also very simple. Just spill the water and wipe it with a dry cloth. As soon as both metal pins are dry, the circuit is broken, causing the light to turn off immediately. If its battery ever runs out, new button cells can easily be inserted by opening its bottom lid.
