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View Full Version : Touch Lamps Come On By Themselves But Only at Night?


KaraMcIvor
Oct 25, 2006, 06:45 PM
I have a set of two touch lamps. We had used the lamps at another house without incident. The first night I used the lights in my new house, I left one of the lamps on when I went to bed but when I got up the next morning, both lamps were on. The next night I didn't leave either lamp on but when I woke up, both were on. Last night I didn't leave either on but one was on when I got up.

Can anyone please explain what might be happening? It is really starting to get spooky. Anyway, we have no pets that might touch or bump the lamps. They only turn themselves on at night. The other strange part is that I can sit in the living room after dark for two or three hours and neither lamp will turn itself on. This never happened at the other house in which we lived for over a year. So, I'm wondering how they could be turning themselves on and why it only happens in the middle of the night. Thanks to anyone who can explain!!

Oh and I don't know if this has anything to do with it but since I started using the lamps in the new house, I have started getting interference on my baby monitor which was not happening before I used the lamps. The monitors will be fine and then at various times throughout the night, I will hear phone dial tones over the monitor. I even heard a recorded message like voicemail. Thanks.

tkrussell
Oct 26, 2006, 05:46 AM
Seems, according to the information found at:

http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/touchlamp.html

That these lamps are susceptible to RF(radio frequency) waves.

KaraMcIvor
Oct 27, 2006, 07:54 PM
Thanks for the information. I understand the concept of the radio waves but can anyone explain why it would only happen in the middle of the night? Thanks.

tkrussell
Oct 27, 2006, 08:06 PM
Trucking CB's , heavy radio traffic, "Skip" radio waves, a kid or CB hobbist in the neighborhood that only transmits at night, a local college underground radio, etc. etc.

KaraMcIvor
Oct 27, 2006, 08:39 PM
Thanks a bunch!

rodneyt14
Jul 11, 2011, 08:37 AM
Hello, I just read your report on touch lamps. We have a large 6-7 foot curio cabinet that has a touch
Device on the upper side and this thing turns itself on quite frequently. I have it set at the strongest
Setting during the day and turn it completely off during the night only to get up in the morning and it has
Turned itself on. I don't know what you think of the response on the RF but I just read that and I am now
Wondering if that could be the culprit. Have you had any other strange occurrences?

hkstroud
Jul 11, 2011, 10:36 AM
Something to try. Wrap the sensor in aluminum foil. Foil should block radio waves.

rodneyt14
Jul 11, 2011, 11:32 AM
Thank you for that tip on using aluminum foil. We will definitely try that. I will put in a comment on about a month
To let you know if it works!