Electrical Interference ?

[leinad (Dan)]

I'm not sure what to call it?
The other night I happened to wake up, and when going to get a glass of water heard the door bell ring(sometimes it does this unexpectedly), then walking past one of the rooms noticed the TV had turned itself on.

Spooky Mulder!

I'm curious if anyone could explain possibly why it would occur.
The last time I recall the door bell ringing by itself was during bad weather.
TV infrared, Door bell radio freq ? I'm baffled.

[multiweb (Marc)]

What was in that water?

[leinad (Dan)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

What was in that water?

Haha, I hadn't even poured myself a glass before the poltergeists started playing games

[Baddad (Marty)]

Hi Leinad,

I have fixed a few doorbells displaying intermittant ringing. The switch contacts are so close together they sometimes make. I've had car horns do the same.

Replace the switch if its easy and if its a nuisance.

As to the TV. It may have been switched off and bounced the finger on the switch which turned it back on.

If those are not plausable reasons then call Ghost Busters.

Cheers Marty

[Karls48 (Karl)]

This may happen to some appliances when there is momentary loss of mains power.

[RB (Andrew)]

I seem to remember "The Postman Always Rings Twice" was on TV the other night.

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by leinad

I'm not sure what to call it?
The other night I happened to wake up, and when going to get a glass of water heard the door bell ring(sometimes it does this unexpectedly), then walking past one of the rooms noticed the TV had turned itself on.

Spooky Mulder!

I'm curious if anyone could explain possibly why it would occur.
The last time I recall the door bell ringing by itself was during bad weather.
TV infrared, Door bell radio freq ? I'm baffled.

Hi Leinad,

When I read this post I got a cold shiver down my neck....I'll tell you why.

I am not goings bonkers, as my whole family heard it too....

Last week I had the same thing happen at my place. At least just with the doorbell.

It was about 2.30 in the morning, last Monday I think, when our doorbell started to play a tune. It played it twice in a row.
We have one of those wireless ones that work with a radio frequency transmitter.
But get this.... .... It played a tune that it wasn't set to play.
I have it set to do a " ding dong " and it played a westminster tune which needs a different set of toggle switches moved in order to make it play that tune.

I walked cautiously downstairs like a scene from a horror movie with my big maglite in my hand and if someone had pushed the doorbell they would also have triggered the from door sensor lights which weren't on....

I have since played with it and tried to make it do funny things again, but all is OK.

I have no idea why my door bell played up as it did.....

I did entertain the thought of sunspots and / or solar flares that sail past the Earth and upset our Electrical systems, but apart from that ....I dont know the cause.

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

my mother once had a toaster that talked to her

(it used to pick up one of the radio stations )

true

geoff

[mozzie (Peter)]

um um spooky stuff go and cut a broom handle up have it beside the bed if the door bell keeps on going get the stick and flogg the door bell to death problem solved
mozzie

[leinad (Dan)]

Hehe,

I think there may be a power issue in the house? some of the kitchen lights appear to have blown and tonight one light appeared to be dimming.

I got a little concerned after you mentioned that Geoff. Could have been a delinquent ringing the bell to see if anyone was home. In the past Ive been up late and heard the side gate creak; I' flicked on the outdoor light and someone bolted away down the side that could clearly be heard.
I stormed out the front like a madman, one hand weilding a hockeystick the other a torch; I coulda sworn they were hiding in a bush not too far away... if only I had NV goggles... hmmmm.

Ah well, next time it happens I'll flick the lights off/on numerous times; fight spooky noises with spooky house lights.

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl

my mother once had a toaster that talked to her

(it used to pick up one of the radio stations )

true

geoff

Can I get some of that Tea too Geoff ?

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

true story Geoff

at first we thought she was getting into the cooking sherry - but we heard it ourselves

geoff

[Inmykombi (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl

true story Geoff

at first we thought she was getting into the cooking sherry - but we heard it ourselves

geoff

Wow,

I have vaguely heard of that happening with Toasters, but never knew anyone that experienced it.

Was the sound legible? or mixed up garble.... ?

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl

my mother once had a toaster that talked to her

(it used to pick up one of the radio stations )

true

geoff

It is feasible that a junction of dissimilar metals can act as a diode making the toaster the equivalent of an old style crystal radio, but then you need some sort of magnetic transducer equivalent to produce sound. Must have been very faint.

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

yes - sound was legible but faint

geoff

[Starkler (Geoff)]

If you dont like the station a sharp thump should fix it