Oct 13 2009Genius: The 100' Extension Cord Coil Lamp
Craighton Berman may or may not own stock in an extension cord company (I think he does), but he did design the Coil Lamp, a lamp constructed of an acrylic frame around which you wrap a 100' electric cord.
When fully-assembled, the Coil Lamp is a striking addition to any room, but when you look at the raw elements of the lamp, you'll be scratching your head saying "that's all there is?" This is truly a case where the whole is much greater than the sum of its parts.
You can order the Coil Lamp over at Craighton Berman's website. The D.I.Y. version (B.Y.O. extension cord) retails for $75 (USD), while a hand-coiled edition, signed and numbered by the artist sells for $150 bucks.
Impressive, Craighton (can I call you Craig?), but what happens when, oh I dunno, an unruly blogger bites through the corn?! Did I say corn -- I meant cord. Damnit, now all I can think about is Mexican-style corn on the cob. Curse you, obesity!
Hit the jump for a shot of the lamp on and a picture of the unassembled unit.
coil lamp uses extension cord for power and looks [technabob]
Thanks to naas, who once choked a guy out with a cordless lamp. Now that's hardcore!
Reader Comments
1. lala - October 13, 2009 4:46 PM
cooll
2. NaKAhi70 - October 13, 2009 4:46 PM
Not first.. wow thats a pretty epic lamp~
3. Chain Bear - October 13, 2009 4:53 PM
As a physicist, it's my duty to inform you that if you run a current through a coil you'll create an electromagnetic and the coil tends to get very hot!
DANGER DANGER WILL ROBINSON
4. reality - October 13, 2009 4:56 PM
lol you're no physicist. you just took high school physics. congrats
5. Chuey The Rock N Roll Midget - October 13, 2009 5:07 PM
@ 3...
http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u12/wikipedian_protester.png
6. J - October 13, 2009 5:07 PM
hahaha 75 bucks for two bits of plastic and a light fitting.........hahaha ahhh you gotta love 'artists'. Also, 'artist' isnt far off 'arsonist'. Who else can smell burning furniture?
7. Closet Nerd - October 13, 2009 5:16 PM
@5 I know physics, and he is right (in concept). I don't know if the plastic frame would play any part in it.
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/electromag/java/faraday2/
This link is fun even for you immature guys.... naas, STOMPY, LSDiesel & Ham Bone, I'm looking at you perverts..... because you get to move your magnet in and out of the coil.
8. finfan - October 13, 2009 5:29 PM
... Electrons? ..... Negative.... oh..... dear....
9. Chuey The Rock N Roll Midget - October 13, 2009 5:31 PM
@7...In concept you are correct. You learn this in the fourth grade. But we are talking about the lamp. All extension cords made today are built with a electromagnetic radiation-shielding. This prevents this from happening. That's why you can plug it in and use it while its wrapped up in a extension cord holder.
10. supernova_hq - October 13, 2009 5:32 PM
At least you'll never need to search for a close enough plug!
11. Beatnik - October 13, 2009 5:44 PM
#3 Physicists have duties? Is there an oath?
12. Chuey The Rock N Roll Midget - October 13, 2009 5:51 PM
Mmm...Mexican style corn on the cob. With a bunch of mayo! That's why Mexicans are fat!
13. Richard McBeef - October 13, 2009 6:18 PM
@3 - Goddamnit #3. You should have posted first then I would have known not by this overpriced piece of shit. Oh well, I will keep my cool by keeping it water cooled in the bathtub.
14. lol - October 13, 2009 6:35 PM
What's awesome is that all the people corroborating #3 who "know physics" didn't bother to correct the fact that he used the adjective "electromagnetic" to refer to a magnetic field (which could be an honest mistake). Typically electromagnetic usually refers to electromagnetic waves, which covers radiation (from gamma to x-ray to UV to Visible Light to IR to Submm to radio) which can be modeled as orthogonal E & M fields propagating in a wave. It can also be used generally to refer to phenomena associated with electric and magnetic fields, but not as a noun.
Nobody also bothered to point out that even in cases where a magnetic field is created via induction it has NOTHING TO DO with the heating of the wire through which electricity is flowing through. Nor that the net B-field will be zero, what with the 60 hz a/c flowing through the cord.
It's still way the hell overpriced, though.
15. Trioxinator - October 13, 2009 7:09 PM
@ 14.....so if the cord was unshielded, and he had used 'electromagnetic' correctly, then...... the bulb would heat up, melt, and explode? The perfect gift for the imperfect person on your arson holiday list. Weeeee
16. J - October 13, 2009 7:36 PM
@14 - E=MCITSBEENAGESSINCEYOULASTHADSEXIBET
17. Closet Nerd - October 13, 2009 7:55 PM
@8
Two atoms are walking along.
The first atom says, "I think I lost an electron."
The second atom says, "Are you sure?"
"I'm positive" says the first atom
18. s3xt0y - October 13, 2009 8:20 PM
where can i buy this?!?
19. ~ ,_∫∫ ∕∕-|| Y ([¦¦ ([]) ][-¦¦ ~ - October 13, 2009 8:27 PM
hmm cool but not geekologie cool
20. Closet Nerd - October 13, 2009 8:53 PM
I also know what I've read on extension cords, and I posses common knowledge, that tells me it is not a good idea to use an extension cord when wound up in a coil.
Maybe there are more heavy duty extension cords that you can use like that, but I'm betting they cost more money, and I probably bought the cheaper one.
21. naas - October 13, 2009 8:59 PM
@7 giggidy!
@all - I wouldn't introduce anything to geekologie that's harmful to our well being, c'mon. The damn lamp isn't going to overheat, explode, create a vortex or bring back dead pets OR start a fire.
While you're all clever scientists who've aced electrophysiology, RELAX - this lamp wont end the world or turn time upside down just yet
@12 Chuey !%@#!^?!
@17 lol'z
@18 follow the linkz
@19 coming from you, doesn't apply
22. Mr. Anderson - October 13, 2009 10:32 PM
Do want.
23. Craighton - October 14, 2009 12:20 AM
Let your minds rest easy; this lamp does not cause fiery blazes, electromagnetic fields, or rifts in the space-time continuum. Thanks for the post, Geekologie.
24. Chain Bear - October 14, 2009 4:13 AM
@14 - you fool. Electric and Magentic phenomona are the same thing, that's why they are all part of electromagnetism. Magnetism is caused by electric fields - they are all part of the same thing.
25. Android Boy - October 14, 2009 5:47 AM
@12
That's delicious.
But I'm mexican, and for sure I'm no fat. Lol
26. Geekolojew - October 14, 2009 8:54 AM
Must See!!!
http://alturl.com/obg7
________________
27. AudioFile.exe - October 14, 2009 10:06 AM
@17 wow, I can't believe I found that so funny.. I just rofl'd mao XD
28. GuB - October 14, 2009 11:34 AM
Hey guys, the current needed to power a 10W light bulb will not create physical phenomenon that will destroy the universe. This is what the LHC is for.
About EMF, in an extension chord, there are two wires and current flows in opposite ways, mostly canceling the effect of the coil.
For higher powers, heat may be a problem because tightly packed wire doesn't dissipate heat easily, this is probably the reason for these warnings.
29. Jaded Icon - October 14, 2009 3:02 PM
@ 29
Then you're not a real mexican....most likely from brazil or something...
30. Tc of amazing - October 14, 2009 10:42 PM
I did something similar to this but with cardboard. Was rather bad ass
31. Bizarro - October 20, 2009 2:09 AM
This is really cool. To point out one more thing... Using a CF bulb you won't be drawing enough current through an extension cord to catch fire... If so, wouldn't X-mas trees burst into flames more often from coiled wires?