Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Classical · 08-12-2006, 04:54 AM

I've heard of this happening before, but not in my house. There has got to be a logical explanation and I know someone will figure it out.

Last night I was in my family room cuddled up with my partner and our beloved dog watching Madea Goes to Jail. All of a sudden, our hall lights came on. Off of our family room is a long hallway, at least twenty-five feet long, which has three globe lights, one on each end of the hallway and one in the middle all on the ceiling controlled by dimmer switches (you know how queens are with our lighting!

).

My partner and I both looked at the same time and asked "What the hell?" Then my partner, backslidden Catholic that he is, said it was a sign for me to believe in God. Madea had just broken into a song about Jesus.

Well, let's hear it.

Classical

ninewands · 08-12-2006, 04:56 AM

Sounds like a wiring problem to me ... I think I'd call an electrician before I called a priest.

doc_simon · 08-12-2006, 05:21 AM

Sticky switch on the dimmer? If you have ones you have to press to turn off (rather than twist), then the it may not have been turned off correctly. Had the opposite happen to me, where the lights have gone off - seemed just be to the switch.

Anyway, my advice. Remove the switch. Sell it on Ebay as haunted. Buy a new switch with the proceeds.

hasselhoff · 08-12-2006, 09:11 AM

It could be a short, most likely in one of the switches. I'd replace them as soon as possible, as that can be dangerous.

general_koffi · 08-12-2006, 09:24 AM

It sounds like a switch problem to me too. See if it happens again - could be a fluke.

As far as divine signs go, it sucks. You didn't even lose your insurance premium...

Asha'man · 08-12-2006, 09:36 AM

Were the lights off? or were they just dimmed down to the point that you thought they were off?

If they weren't really off, then a momentary voltage fluctuation can and will change the brightness level on a dimmer switch. And, as I'm sure you know, the Atlanta area has lots of voltage glitches, especially in summer thunderstorm season. (The UPS on my computer has recorded at least one per day for the last two weeks)

IRON MAN · 08-12-2006, 10:13 AM

Short circuit my arse!

It's obviously one of those goddamned purple leprechauns dicking with you.

Stand underneath each light and spin around three times holding a green candle while chanting, "Be gone mischievous spirit", in Swahili and throwing non-iodised salt over your shoulder.

You may have to do this three times a week for a while to make sure they get tired of having their power to switch lights exorcised and leave in frustration.

If you don't have any luck after a month, try an orange candle, and paint a triangle on your floor in toad blood, because you could have red leprechauns, which act the same way, but are much rarer - so try the purple leprechaun solution first.

Electrician.

You guys obviously don't know your coloured leprechauns!

Anat · 08-12-2006, 11:34 AM

I had such repeated events with a dimmer switch in my house. Went away with the replacement of the switch.

skepticalbip · 08-12-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anat

I had such repeated events with a dimmer switch in my house. Went away with the replacement of the switch.

Yeah, it is always a good idea to get rid of those haunted switches if their mysterious antics bother you. And replacement is usually simpler and more reliable than an exorcism.

blkgayatheist · 08-12-2006, 01:07 PM

Stop watching Tyler Perry movies. they are from the devil

08-12-2006, 04:54 AM	#1
Classical Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Posts: 1,808	Explain this, fellow skeptics I've heard of this happening before, but not in my house. There has got to be a logical explanation and I know someone will figure it out. Last night I was in my family room cuddled up with my partner and our beloved dog watching Madea Goes to Jail. All of a sudden, our hall lights came on. Off of our family room is a long hallway, at least twenty-five feet long, which has three globe lights, one on each end of the hallway and one in the middle all on the ceiling controlled by dimmer switches (you know how queens are with our lighting! ). My partner and I both looked at the same time and asked "What the hell?" Then my partner, backslidden Catholic that he is, said it was a sign for me to believe in God. Madea had just broken into a song about Jesus. Well, let's hear it. Classical

08-12-2006, 09:36 AM	#6
Asha'man Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: southeast Posts: 2,526	Voltage Spike Were the lights off? or were they just dimmed down to the point that you thought they were off? If they weren't really off, then a momentary voltage fluctuation can and will change the brightness level on a dimmer switch. And, as I'm sure you know, the Atlanta area has lots of voltage glitches, especially in summer thunderstorm season. (The UPS on my computer has recorded at least one per day for the last two weeks)

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08-12-2006, 04:56 AM	#2
ninewands Beloved Deceased Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: ? Posts: 3,310	Sounds like a wiring problem to me ... I think I'd call an electrician before I called a priest.

08-12-2006, 05:21 AM	#3
doc_simon Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Switzerland (soon Canada) Posts: 1,670	Sticky switch on the dimmer? If you have ones you have to press to turn off (rather than twist), then the it may not have been turned off correctly. Had the opposite happen to me, where the lights have gone off - seemed just be to the switch. Anyway, my advice. Remove the switch. Sell it on Ebay as haunted. Buy a new switch with the proceeds.

08-12-2006, 09:11 AM	#4
hasselhoff Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 283	It could be a short, most likely in one of the switches. I'd replace them as soon as possible, as that can be dangerous.

08-12-2006, 09:24 AM	#5
general_koffi Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 10,887	It sounds like a switch problem to me too. See if it happens again - could be a fluke. As far as divine signs go, it sucks. You didn't even lose your insurance premium...

08-12-2006, 10:13 AM	#7
IRON MAN Banned Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 3,127	Short circuit my arse! It's obviously one of those goddamned purple leprechauns dicking with you. Stand underneath each light and spin around three times holding a green candle while chanting, "Be gone mischievous spirit", in Swahili and throwing non-iodised salt over your shoulder. You may have to do this three times a week for a while to make sure they get tired of having their power to switch lights exorcised and leave in frustration. If you don't have any luck after a month, try an orange candle, and paint a triangle on your floor in toad blood, because you could have red leprechauns, which act the same way, but are much rarer - so try the purple leprechaun solution first. Electrician. You guys obviously don't know your coloured leprechauns!

08-12-2006, 11:34 AM	#8
Anat Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: home Posts: 3,715	I had such repeated events with a dimmer switch in my house. Went away with the replacement of the switch.

08-12-2006, 01:07 PM	#10
blkgayatheist Regular Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 488	Stop watching Tyler Perry movies. they are from the devil

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