Alarm clock is reset by a butane lighter.

[Cat]

I have this alarm clock.
http://www.hammacher.com/publish/70460.asp

If I use a lighter similar to this: (pressurized gas lighter) http://www.amazon.com/Weber-WE...-Lighter/dp/B00025LR00

...while lighting a candle next to the clock, the clock resets. The lighter is six or seven inches away from any delicate electronics in the clock. Even crazier to me is the fact that the clock won't reset if I unplug it.

What the hell is going on? I'm pretty sure it's not a function of heat, but relates to proximity of the gas. If I leave my candle burning next to the clock nothing happens.

 

[IAteYourMother]

well, it could be heat, because butane is much much hotter than a candle.

 

[Cat]

I suppose you're right, but the candle has a deep depression which envelopes the end of lighter, shielding the clock.

 

[Auric]

That's not an alarm clock, it's a Dalek. Be thankful you immobilized it before being exterminated.

 

[SuperSix]

The clock is reacting to something caused by the piezo lighting mechanism.

Usa a book of natches to light the candle.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: SuperSix
The clock is reacting to something caused by the piezo lighting mechanism.

Usa a book of natches to light the candle.

hmm, i am actually interested by your explanation.

 

[Cat]

This? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectric Thanks!

 

[silverpig]

The piezo puts out a very high voltage pulse. It's sort of like a mini EMP I guess.

 

[DangerAardvark]

That's a cool clock. You're also a huge pussy. You light candles next to your aroma-therapy clock?

 

[DarkThinker]

Absolutely, the sudden spike across the electrodes of the piezoelectric device due to the enormous instantaneous potential difference (voltage), leads to an instantaneous yet shortly lived electromagnetic field. Such EMF are known for their disruptive side effects to electronic components, mainly due to the fact that your lighter wasn't designed to be used around electronic components (it's mostly a kitchen accessory), hence why normally products that are expected to be used nearby electronic devices are properly shielded

I say just use a regular lighter, the effects are almost nothing in comparison.

EDIT: Or if you are hardcore about lighting those candles with the kitchen lighter you have, you could maybe consider lighting your candle from within the constraints of a Faraday Cage :laugh:

 

[Throckmorton]

Make a video and convince people that something paranormal is responsible

 

[kranky]

Would a tinfoil hat for your alarm protect it?

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: SuperSix
The clock is reacting to something caused by the piezo lighting mechanism.

Usa a book of natches to light the candle.

Interesting!

(i'm also in awe that one can actually learn something while browsing atot)

 

[djheater]

We used to take the piezoelectric mechanisms out of lighters and experiment with arcade games.

There were a few we could get to spontaneously eject tickets by inserting the electrodes in the coin slots. Some would reboot, some would add credits, etc.

We never determined if this was a function of the EMP or voltage, never tried it with a battery or anything.

They're fun little devive to play with.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Originally posted by: djheater
We used to take the piezoelectric mechanisms out of lighters and experiment with arcade games.

There were a few we could get to spontaneously eject tickets by inserting the electrodes in the coin slots. Some would reboot, some would add credits, etc.

We never determined if this was a function of the EMP or voltage, never tried it with a battery or anything.

They're fun little devive to play with.

NO WAII!

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: FuzzyDunlop

NO WAII!

WAI!

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: djheater
We used to take the piezoelectric mechanisms out of lighters and experiment with arcade games.

There were a few we could get to spontaneously eject tickets by inserting the electrodes in the coin slots. Some would reboot, some would add credits, etc.

We never determined if this was a function of the EMP or voltage, never tried it with a battery or anything.

They're fun little devive to play with.

Hmmmm.......


You're filling my head with ideas. Bad ideas.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: djheater
We used to take the piezoelectric mechanisms out of lighters and experiment with arcade games.

There were a few we could get to spontaneously eject tickets by inserting the electrodes in the coin slots. Some would reboot, some would add credits, etc.

We never determined if this was a function of the EMP or voltage, never tried it with a battery or anything.

They're fun little devive to play with.

Hmmmm.......


You're filling my head with ideas. Bad ideas.

To my knowledge we never scored real big. A couple hundred tickets maybe. A few free games here or there. The results weren't predictable, even on repeated trials. For the record, I don't remember us ever breaking a machine either, though we did cause reboots once in a while...

 

[Old Hippie]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: djheater
We used to take the piezoelectric mechanisms out of lighters and experiment with arcade games.

There were a few we could get to spontaneously eject tickets by inserting the electrodes in the coin slots. Some would reboot, some would add credits, etc.

We never determined if this was a function of the EMP or voltage, never tried it with a battery or anything.

They're fun little devive to play with.

Hmmmm.......


You're filling my head with ideas. Bad ideas.

Work on slots?

 

[gamepad]

Is that alarm clock helpful for waking up?