Automatic Sinks
 

Something I've noticed happy quite a bit (not every time I'm around one, but often enough for it to be strange) is that automatic sinks will come on briefly with no-one in front of them when I'm around. I've even had an automatic paper towel dispenser kick on a few times when nobody else was around and I wasn't anywhere near it. Is this something anyone else has ever had happen? And does anyone know if there's any sort of logical explanation for it? I honestly don't know enough about the sensors that are used to know how sensetive they are and what could cause them to turn on, but it seems like it would take something that was at least noticible.

I've had it happen numerous times. And of course I can't leave without activating the sink and paper dispensers a few extra times just for the hell of it.

Since most of these automatic faucets and paper dispensers operate on an infrared signal, my only logical explanation for this phenomenon is that you and I, and whoever else activates these from a distance, must be HOT!

:lol:

Twisted my noggin' :D.

Strange to think of such an occurrence, but I would not be an authority on the subject since I am borderline-hermitic.


Waves of some sort?

The same way a cat can set off infrared burglar alarms. All it takes is a temporary breaking of the beam for it to dispense. It could be anything floating across the path of the beam near the dispenser; dust, loose paper; even a shadow cast by another object, broken by your movement.

It's the same process used in most automatic garage door open/closers. Some use resistance against the chain, but most just shoot a beam across the opening. If anything breaks the beam, the door will reverse direction.