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Two battery powered clocks stopping at the same time

Filippo Lippi

Philosopher
Filippo Lippi
Joined
Nov 28, 2002
Messages
5,358
On another forum a correspondent reports

"Woke up this morning and saw our bedroom alarm clock had stopped at 4.40 so I went into the kitchen to get a new battery and the kitchen clock had stopped at the exact same time.

Neither of them needed their batteries changing in the end, they're both keeping perfect time now."

This has spooked her a bit, so anyone have any ideas about what would cause this to happen? My knowledge of electricity runs to changing a plug.

Thanks
 
Did they show the same time to start with? None of my clocks do. The obvious answers I can think of are lightning or just plain, boring coincidence.
 
EMI, electromagnetic interference. Some signal messed up the signals in the electronics, and stopped both clocks. Most likely candidate is lightning. Or some radio transmitter.

Hans
 
Let us know if the person involved finds 'lightning' a more plausible explanation than a paranormal one.

I guess it depends if she posted the story looking for a mundane explanation, or to share her 'spooky' experience.
 
Filippo Lippi said:
On another forum a correspondent reports

"Woke up this morning and saw our bedroom alarm clock had stopped at 4.40 so I went into the kitchen to get a new battery and the kitchen clock had stopped at the exact same time.

Neither of them needed their batteries changing in the end, they're both keeping perfect time now."

This has spooked her a bit, so anyone have any ideas about what would cause this to happen? My knowledge of electricity runs to changing a plug.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Not enough information and very possibly incorrect reporting. Requires greater detail for final detemination.

Digital or analog clocks?

Also, bedroom alarm clock run strictly on batteries? Odd. Usually the battery is just a backup to keep proper time in case power fails.
 
Rob Lister said:
Also, bedroom alarm clock run strictly on batteries? Odd. Usually the battery is just a backup to keep proper time in case power fails.
Click to expand...

I've only ever had battery ones. I don't think I've ever seen one plugged in that wasn't in a hotel.
 
A man with one clock knows what time it is. A man with two clocks can never be sure. :)
 
Rob Lister said:
Not enough information and very possibly incorrect reporting. Requires greater detail for final detemination.

Digital or analog clocks?

Also, bedroom alarm clock run strictly on batteries? Odd. Usually the battery is just a backup to keep proper time in case power fails.
Click to expand...

Obviously analog, digital clocks don't stop, then show some time. And obviously battery-only. Otherwise, why would he go for a new battery?

Plenty of analog alarms run battery only.

Hans
 
MRC_Hans said:
Obviously analog, digital clocks don't stop, then show some time. And obviously battery-only. Otherwise, why would he go for a new battery?

Plenty of analog alarms run battery only.

Hans
Click to expand...
two digital clocks stopping at the same time...
Now that is spooky. Wasn't that in a movie recently?
 
Filippo Lippi said:
On another forum a correspondent reports

"Woke up this morning and saw our bedroom alarm clock had stopped at 4.40 so I went into the kitchen to get a new battery and the kitchen clock had stopped at the exact same time.

Neither of them needed their batteries changing in the end, they're both keeping perfect time now."
Click to expand...
Too vague, not enough details.
How did she know her bedroom clock was stopped when she woke up and looked at it?
What time was it when she woke up, and how did she find out?
Exactly how did the clocks start up again?

On the details given, my explanation would be something like:
She woke up, blearily looked at her clock, thought "It can't be that early!" She then got up, went into the kitchen to check the time there, saw the kitchen clock was showing the same time. Still half-asleep and convinced the time was later, she thought "They've both stopped!", fetched the bedroom clock, fumbled with the batteries in both clocks. In the middle of that, she came fully awake and realised that both clocks were in fact working. Went back to bed, still thinking the clocks had both stopped for a few minutes.
 
sophia8 said:
On the details given, my explanation would be something like:
She woke up, blearily looked at her clock, thought "It can't be that early!" She then got up, went into the kitchen to check the time there, saw the kitchen clock was showing the same time. Still half-asleep and convinced the time was later, she thought "They've both stopped!", fetched the bedroom clock, fumbled with the batteries in both clocks. In the middle of that, she came fully awake and realised that both clocks were in fact working. Went back to bed, still thinking the clocks had both stopped for a few minutes.
Click to expand...

I really like that explanation. Would like more details about the clocks, though.

Analogue? Second hand present on either? Where was the second hand pointing on each stopped clock? How did the clocks resume normal operation, and when?

Some things that can stop clocks at around the same, besides electrical interference, include :

1) Low batteries suddenly reaching low temperature late at night for the first time in the fall season before the heat is running.

2) Low batteries unable to raise the minute hand as it goes against gravity on the up swing.

3) Hands colliding with each other at vulnerable points (esp low near 6:00; not the case of the OP).

Combine #1 and #2 and you have a real possibility of two clocks stopping at around the same time, then resuming after their batteries warm up.

I still prefer the drowsy delusion theory.
 
Mr. Scott said:
...Snip
1) Low batteries suddenly reaching low temperature late at night for the first time in the fall season before the heat is running.

2) Low batteries unable to raise the minute hand as it goes against gravity on the up swing.
...Snip
Click to expand...
My vote for the winner. When my clocks batteries start to run down, the minute hand usually ends up hanging at around the forty minute mark. That's the point at which the clock first starts to really have to heave the pointer up against gravity.
 
MortFurd said:
My vote for the winner. When my clocks batteries start to run down, the minute hand usually ends up hanging at around the forty minute mark. That's the point at which the clock first starts to really have to heave the pointer up against gravity.
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Are you sure? Maybe it was the hypnotoad that convinced you to agree with him?:D

I, too, agree with the low battery idea.
 
joobz said:
Are you sure? Maybe it was the hypnotoad that convinced you to agree with him?:D

I, too, agree with the low battery idea.
Click to expand...

I vote for low battery *and* low temperature. Batteries generate electricity by a chemical reaction. The reaction rate increases with temperature so the warmer the battery, the more energy it will supply. This also means that when the battery gets cold, its voltage will drop. If both batteries were equally weak, and they were both exposed to the same temperatures, then they would have stopped at the same time.

If this idea is true, the clocks should stop again tonight. They should also stop if they are placed in the refrigerator.
 
bjb said:
I vote for low battery *and* low temperature. Batteries generate electricity by a chemical reaction. The reaction rate increases with temperature so the warmer the battery, the more energy it will supply. This also means that when the battery gets cold, its voltage will drop. If both batteries were equally weak, and they were both exposed to the same temperatures, then they would have stopped at the same time.

If this idea is true, the clocks should stop again tonight. They should also stop if they are placed in the refrigerator.
Click to expand...
you could even say that the viscocity of the greese increases with colder temps, increasing the force required to move....

I didn't include temp because I felt like we were adding assumptions to the situation. That aren't nessassary Does this person lower her thermostat at night? Are the clocks in line of a window to be heated radiatively by the sun? In truth, colder night time temps outside could result in warmer temps night time temps by the clock (if it is by a radiator/vent when the temperature kicks on).

Based on your prediction, if the clocks don't stop again, does that mean it was a ghost/evil spirit/emily rose?


Low batteries, a groggy morning, a bad dream.... all can be reasons. I don't see the need to confound the proof with additional variables.
 
You guys are just conjuring up such complicated speculations. Okra's Razor suggests it must be demons. They are slimy little devils.
 
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