The urinals in the men's rooms at work have automatic flushing sensors. These sensors use motion detectors to determine when to flush the urinal. The best I can figure they're armed when you stand in front of them and then trigger once you step away.
I've noticed a strange trend that sometimes they don't exactly work properly. Sometimes they flush when I step up to them and then don't do it when I step away. Sometimes they do nothing. But most times when they act up they flush over and over again while I stand in front of them and then revert back to normal once I step away. It's odd, but it doesn't happen everyday. In fact it's fairly rare that it does happen. Today I think I figured out the problem.
I have a black merino wool sweater. I've deduced that the only time the urinals act up is when I'm wearing this sweater. My hunch is that the reflective properties of the soft micro weave sweater are different than that of most shirts/garments and thus cause the sensor to freak.
I verified this today by three separate trips to the restroom, each time being sure to use the same receptacle. The first time (wearing the sweater) the urinal was at it again - flushing over and over again. The second time (sweater removed, polo shirt) no problems - normal operation. The third time (sweater back on) the urinal went all catywompus on me again.
This may not be enough data to back a doctoral thesis on Operational Malfunctions of Automatic Urinal Flush Sensors or Reflective Properties of Black Sweaters, but so far I think I may have something. I'm going to try it on another floor and see what happens.
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3 comments:
Do you get a Ph.D. for completing your thesis without peeing all over your sweater?
The DOD might be interested in your theories on tripping cheap motion detectors.
this is the funniest thing I've read all morning...then again, it's only 7:30.
Let me know how your theory goes...maybe you're on to something. :p
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