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.

  • andrew@lemmy.stuart.funEnglish
    34·
    3 months ago

    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.

    • Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      61·
      3 months ago

      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?

      • MindTraveller@lemmy.caEnglish
        61·
        3 months ago

        That’s if the alarm reads the voltage directly. But if the low voltage flips a switch that stays flipped, then no.

        • Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          3·
          3 months ago

          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.

  • jordanlund@lemmy.worldEnglish
    161·
    3 months ago

    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. :)

  • 14th_cylon@lemm.eeEnglish
    183·
    3 months ago

    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…

      • BrundleFly2077@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        112·
        3 months ago

        Regardless, man. You should a) make more of these and b) get your own style.

        “Not XKCD” is not a flattering brand.

      • 14th_cylon@lemm.eeEnglish
        104·
        3 months ago

        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.

        • Dave.@aussie.zoneEnglish
          10·
          3 months ago

          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.

    • p3n@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2·
      3 months ago

      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.

  • recklessengagement@lemmy.worldEnglish
    81·
    3 months ago

    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

  • verstra@programming.devEnglish
    6·
    3 months ago

    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

  • jqubed@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    3 months ago

    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.