I just purchased a new but inexpensive floor lamp that is a touch lamp with 4 settings (off, low, medium, high). After I had had the lamp on for about an hour, it started cycling through the settings while I was on the other side of the room. I unplugged it and tried again later with the same result. I am trying to avoid repacking it in the box it came in to return it. I am hoping someone will know of an easy way to correct this issue.

When you tried it again later, did it take another hour to malfunction? If so then the electronics might be overheating from the light bulb and you need to lower the wattage.

If it appears to be permanently stuck cycling through brightness settings, that sounds like a defective electronic board. If so then it's not serviceable (unless you are a devoted electronics hobbyist) and should be returned.

Possibly it's getting RFI (radio-frequency interference) from a nearby transmitter such as a cell phone, cordless phone, or wireless computer network. RF noise also comes from motors, especially small appliances like hair dryers. RF that leaks into electronic control chips masquerades as computer pulses, causing malfunction. A cheap device won't have protective isolation from RFI.

Possibly it's getting so-called X-10 signals over the power lines from a neighbor with a "smart house", or even digitial interference from one of your own devices over the power lines. For instance, a "smart" ceiling fan.

I believe most touch lamps usually use capacitative sensing. Touching the exterior metal, which has a small charge built up on it, adds capacitance and allows charge to quickly redistribute by (harmlessly) flowing into your body. So if the touch-sensitive portion of the lamp contacts a metal object that is electrically grounded, it might constantly sense a "touch" event and keep cycling. That would be a very bad design, but who knows?

Try the lamp someplace besides your house, if you can. That will rule out local interference. You can search for RFI sources in your house using a TV with an indoor antenna, looking for herringbone, speckle, etc. Or use an AM radio to listen for crackle. This is mainly helpful for intermittent malfunction (now you see it, now you don't).

But, eeyore, something tells me you're going to end up exchanging it for one that's not broken.

"When all else fails, read the manual."

Professor is right on in his answer. To add to the things that can cause havoc with these lights is high humidity. This drains away that charge change that the Professor was taking about. Is there a register blow on it or something of that nature?

One thing that has worked for me is reversing the plug. While not usually a big problem, most devices today have polarized plugs on them so they only go in one way.

This is done to protect you from shock hazard. The center bulb conductor on the base is the “Hot” or 120 volt side of the power. This is also the switched part of the power. This keeps you far away from the power when you change bulbs if you forget to unplug or turn it off. If that is not true in you house, then you may have a wiring problem. This is hard to check as a voltmeter will read only 120 V AC.

If the light, and this is only a guess, is wired wrong, then the metal part of the light that you touch may be picking up stray emissions from the house wiring.

Try the light in a different outlet. If possible, try in in a different house. This may help you decide if it's the light, location or the house.

Please, for your safety, do not try to repair or re-wire the light.

take it baack and get a replacement. its not worth the head ache

Just in case it is the wiring I would take it back, you don't want an electrical fire.