Frequently Asked Questions
Product & Function
Tide.lamp is a handcrafted wooden lamp that reflects the movement of the tide at your chosen coastal location using beautiful pleasing colours.
The lamp connects to WiFi, retrieves real-time tidal data, tracks where the tide is in its cycle, and smoothly transitions the light to reflect that movement throughout the day.
The lamp shows the state and direction of the tide. It is designed to be understood instantly without numbers or labels.
A small status light at the base glows blue when the tide is coming in and turns off when it is going out.
Tide.lamp measures approximately:
Height: 305mm (12 inches)
Diameter: 98mm (3.9 inches)
It has a compact footprint, making it suitable for bedside tables, shelves, or desks without taking up too much space.
Height: 305mm (12 inches)
Diameter: 98mm (3.9 inches)
It has a compact footprint, making it suitable for bedside tables, shelves, or desks without taking up too much space.
No. Tide height is available in the app. The lamp itself shows a simplified visual representation to keep it clear and easy to read.
Yes. Tide.lamp will still work in locations with complex tidal patterns, such as Poole in Dorset.
By default, the lamp uses a "Rule of twelfths" model designed to be smooth and easy to read. In some areas with multiple highs and lows in a day, this can slightly simplify the behaviour.
For greater accuracy, an advanced mode called Sample-Based Tide Calculations can be enabled. This uses tide data measured in 30m intervals, allowing the lamp to reflect more complex tidal movement throughout the day.
You can read more about how this works here:
View detailed explanation
By default, the lamp uses a "Rule of twelfths" model designed to be smooth and easy to read. In some areas with multiple highs and lows in a day, this can slightly simplify the behaviour.
For greater accuracy, an advanced mode called Sample-Based Tide Calculations can be enabled. This uses tide data measured in 30m intervals, allowing the lamp to reflect more complex tidal movement throughout the day.
You can read more about how this works here:
View detailed explanation
No. In fact, Tidelight is at its best when it's bringing the coast to you. The lamp allows you to stay connected to your coast even when you are far away from it.
No. While it can be bright when running at 100% brightness, It is designed to produce a soft, low-level glow and is not designed to replace a main light.
Setup & Connectivity
Plug in the lamp, open the app, connect to WiFi, and choose your location. Setup takes just a few minutes.
For more detailed guidance, you can view the full setup manual or follow along with our step-by-step videos:
View setup manual
Watch setup videos
For more detailed guidance, you can view the full setup manual or follow along with our step-by-step videos:
View setup manual
Watch setup videos
You need WiFi, the Tidelight app, and a USB power supply.
To reduce electrical waste, a plug is not included. You can use a standard charger with at least 2 amps output.
Use a good quality USB power adapter with at least 2A output and USB-C compatibility.
Yes for live updates. If WiFi drops, it continues running for up to 2 days and reconnects automatically when the WIFI connection is back.
Yes, at any time in the app.
No. The app is only needed for setup or changing settings.
Orders & Shipping
We aim to dispatch your item in 1-3 days. Delivery takes 1-2 business days. Your lamp is sent tracked and signed, so you will need to make sure someone is there to recieve it.
Orders are usually zero-rated for VAT, but local import rules may still apply.
Usage
No, Tide.lamp does not have a physical on/off switch.
Instead, it is designed to run continuously and reflect the natural movement of the tide throughout the day.
You can, however, control when the lamp is active using the scheduling feature in the app. This allows you to set it to gently turn on in the morning and dim or turn off in the evening, creating a more natural daily rhythm.
Once set, this runs automatically, so you don’t need to interact with the lamp day to day.
Instead, it is designed to run continuously and reflect the natural movement of the tide throughout the day.
You can, however, control when the lamp is active using the scheduling feature in the app. This allows you to set it to gently turn on in the morning and dim or turn off in the evening, creating a more natural daily rhythm.
Once set, this runs automatically, so you don’t need to interact with the lamp day to day.
No. It is not designed as a reading light.
No. Once set up, it runs automatically. Just enjoy the tide as it flows in and out.
No. It operates silently.