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Safety and Gooseneck Lamps

susanw | Jun 23, 2010 |

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There is no doubt that gooseneck lamps are extremely useful. The gooseneck lamp has many uses, both as a desk lamp and a floor lamp. The very fact that the head is able to twist and turn and bend almost any direction means that you can direct the light flow anywhere you want. This is especially helpful if you are reading in a dim room as you can turn the lamp to shine directly onto your reading material. If you are working at your desk you can decide what is most important to illuminate-your computer keyboard, papers on your desk or even the computer screen. Because of this versatility they are a favorite choice of many.

When buying the flexible gooseneck lamp there are some things to take into consideration concerning safety issues. The first concern should be what the actual lamp section is made out of. Metal hoods can become extremely hot resulting in serious burns to the skin if they are accidentally touched. They can also inflame objects that they are placed too close to. While you should never place any lamp close to paper, cloth, curtains or bedcovers it is actually far better to look for a lamp where the hood does not hold too much heat. Steer clear of cheap metal lamps, usually the aluminium lamps heat up much more than those made with other metals.

Check the base of the lamp you are planning on buying-whether a gooseneck desk lamp or a floor lamp-to ensure that it is wide and solid enough to support the lamp. One good test is to push the gooseneck lamp down as far as it will go and see if the base still remains firm. Poor quality gooseneck lamps that are unstable will actually tip over the closer the bulb and hood get to the surface it is sitting on. Naturally you want to ensure that the lamp will stay standing and will not tip over no matter which direction or how far it turns.

Finally you may want to buy a lamp that takes fluorescent bulbs rather than incandescent bulbs as they generally do not heat up as much, nor is there as much likelihood that they will explode. Long life light bulbs are also very saving, so see if your lamp will take those type of bulbs.

In order to buy the right gooseneck lamp, one that will be safe to use, you should carefully check into the details mentioned above. Of course, safety does not stop there. Be sure that you always operate your lamp under proper conditions. Unless it is designed for outside use, do not expose it to moisture or water. Keep the bulb away from anything that could catch fire, do not use your lamp for extended periods and be sure to turn it off when it is not in use and whenever you leave a room for any length of time.