I’m building my own house while we live in a trailer out front.
Anyway, a couple of days ago as I headed off for work, I noticed that my worklight was on in the house – no big deal, as I just assumed that I had left it on the night before (I have all my lights plugged into one power strip, so I can just switch them off from one location – thankfully I had turned the heater switch off so I didn’t waste fuel all night). So I turned it off.
When I came home from work that night, I noticed it was on again – strange, the house was all locked up, so no burglers – & nothing was missing. I go in & shut it off again & call my brother (he has a key & I thought maybe he borrowed something). He didn’t turn it on, so I go out & it is on again. This time, I switch off the power strip & unplug it.
The next morning, I go out & check on it – the strip is still unplugged, but I notice that the switch on the power strip is flipped to the “on” position again & that it’s kinda hard to switch off – I have to hold it in the off position while I plug it in.
It’s been extremely cold the past few days & my best guess is that whatever it is that trips the switch when it over heats is sort of working in reverse in the extreme cold causing the switch to turn on all by itself – the only other thing I can think of is that a mouse likes pushing the switch on 🙂
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that a mouse likes pushing the switch on
think you nailed it there, had a pack rat move my spare key a few times, the animals go for the salt that was on you fingers and lick or bite the switch - and nicks or teeth marks?
Dont ask how I know not to leave a sweaty wood handled ax outside when there are critters around. (or paddles in a canoe)
The only reason I think it ISN'T a mouse (or other rodent) is that the one morning I went out (when it was REALLY cold - and the strip had been unplugged), I had to hold the switch in the off position while I plugged it in - it kept flipping back to "ON".
Once things had been on for a while (and I got things warmed up a touch inside), I could turn it off and it would stay off.
hold the switch in the off position while I plugged it in - it kept flipping back to "ON".
no fair - you didn't include that in your first post <G>
Some bi-metal toggle breakers can do what you describe, but have never seen one like that on an outlet strip. One way to check is put a heat gun on it for a few seconds and see if the switch keeps flipping back on. If so, new outlet strip or keep unplugging when leaving.
Poltergeist.
No, really.
<G>
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Maybe that explains the cold :D
Replace the outlet strip. The cost of a new one is less than the frustation of dealing with the old one.
Best to you and yours, Chris.
Some say I know too much.