Not XKCD - Smoke detector batteries
This comic is inspired by XKCD and recent events and observations in my life. Disclaimer: I have no artistic ability and blatantly rip off the XKCD style and artwork, however the idea is mine and I feel it fits.
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25 replies
Nobody:
Youtube Algo:
This is the worst thing I've ever seen
...and the red bar indicates you (or whoever originally made that meme) started watching it.
Its a screenshot from my YouTube history.
I was really engrossed with the plot.
I mean, yeah, this is one of those cases where you think the plot is obvious, but also, that's a great setup for a plot twist, so you gotta watch it to be sure.
Voltages drop in the cold, and the middle of the night is usually the coldest. So that's why this is probably not far from reality.
Wouldn’t the lower temperature make it highly likely that the low power beep occurs only during the middle of the night, but not during the day?
That's if the alarm reads the voltage directly. But if the low voltage flips a switch that stays flipped, then no.
Ok, but the probability would still be shifted towards starting at night.
Maybe it could be more like 80% for it to start beeping in the night and 20% it starts during other times.
edit: so it seems that if there is significant day/night temperature difference in your home, that can be a factor and it may not be only about selective memory.
i apologize to the author.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Output-voltage-of-single-9V-battery-with-temperature_fig1_252062945
https://diy.stackexchange.com/a/221040
The problem is xkcd is about science and this is as scientific as trump solving the hurricane with a sharpie...I would say some of them are, but some are just funny observations. Like the current issue: https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/olympic_sports_2x.png
Zero science in that either.
Regardless, man. You should a) make more of these and b) get your own style.
“Not XKCD” is not a flattering brand.
yeah, the current issue has zero science in it, but your comics presents dumb folks' wisdom (untrue and unscientific) and present it to look somewhat "scientifically", which is imho against the general ethos of xkcd.the alarm doesn't really go off more often at night.it is just that when it goes off during the day, you fix the problem and move on. when it goes off during night, and presumably wakes you up, it pisses you off and you tend to remember it more due to associated emotions.it is a case of selective memory.I shall counter with a hypothesis:
It could be that extended lower temperatures at night slow battery chemistry to the point where the voltage sags below the trigger threshold. It would take quite a few hours to cool the battery down from day time ceiling temps, so this would naturally occur in the early hours of the morning just before temperatures rise again.
oh come on, we are talking about detectors inside heated apartments, not an igloo.
edit: ok, but now i am curious. it seems that other people share the same theory, but that doesn't mean it is not just shared myth.
https://www.google.com/search?q=fire+detectors+battery+dead+time+of+day
if anyone has some research or link they consider interesting on the topic, i'd be happy to look at it.
Thanks, really no need to apologize. I had assumed it was just selective memory myself and hadn't considered the temp/voltage drop possibility, but now we have learned something.
Pro tip... If your detector is beeping at 2 AM and you don't have/can't find a replacement to make it stop... your freezer is sound proof. :)
Instructions unclear, stuck in freezer
remove the battery?
Doesn't work with all detectors. The beep has it's own buried battery because the main one died.
It is uncanny seeing this, as I experienced this EXACT situation less than a week ago.
I still refuse to replace the battery out of spite. I'd rather burn alive than be awoken in such a way again
I'm reading this at 4:39 it seems like you got woken up by the alarm, could not fall asleep again and grudgingly made this comic
I feel this.
Beep
I was on my honeymoon, quiet little cabin in the mountains, had just run a hot bath in the jacuzzi tub for my wife and myself, poured some champagne… and a smoke alarm started the low battery chirp.