Can someone explain this?

[runzwithsizorz]

Like the buttons on a microwave oven, The portable, *remote control*, air conditioner I have will beep with every push of a button. I have had this air conditioner for 7 years, but this year something odd is happening. All by itself it will, start beeping, as though receiving commands. Thermostat up/down, fan speed, etc. Sometimes this will go on for 30 minutes or so, then stop for several hours. Sometimes it will turn on,-- and once on, I physically have to turn it off. There is a wireless router in the room, but this anomaly is new this year. Could my carrier be experimenting with new equipment? D:

 

[IronWing]

Do you live in an apartment or close enough to be receiving signals from other people's remotes?

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Do you live in an apartment or close enough to be receiving signals from other people's remotes?

Townhome in gated community, neighbor was out of town for a week, and it still happened. MY remote is, (I believe), infrared and pretty much can only be used in the same room, virtually aimed at the unit. There is a timer on the unit, but I have never set it. Also, there seems to be no rhyme, or reason to when these beeps occur. Though there is a surge protector on the unit, could a damaged chip on the mainboard do this?

 

[dank69]

There is probably a mouse in there.

 

[kranky]

There is probably a mouse in there.

Is that good or bad?

 

[IronWing]

Is that good or bad?

Did it coke out?

 

[dank69]

Did it coke out?

I see it. What you did there.

 

[logicweb]

Do you live in an apartment or close enough to be receiving signals from other people's remotes?

If it's close to windows i think it's possible other than that it's not possible...

 

[Brainonska511]

What kind of remote does your AC have? Mine uses an IR one, like a TV remote, so it'll only work with line-of-sight.

 

[Ichinisan]

I have an AC window unit in my mancave/barn. Has an infrared remote control. I wonder if your AC unit is responding to IR remote control commands that were not meant for it...?

 

[disappoint]

Cover the infrared sensor on the unit to rule out stray infrared signals. My guess is it's probably not stray infrared signals, but instead some components on the board going bad, maybe dried out capacitors. 7 years is pretty new to be having this problem.

 

[Charmonium]

I have a similar problem with my surveillance monitor. It's an old CRT type and the IR receiver is incredibly sensitive. It doesn't even have to be line of sight since it will receive and respond to a signal bounced off of a light colored surface.

But to be responding the way you're describing, it sounds like something automated like a universal remote that sends timed commands or an IR blaster that people sometimes use to relay IR commands.

I've had fluorescent lamps interfere with IR signals but I've never had a situation where a receiver would interpret light from a fluorescent lamp as a command.

 

[John Connor]

Damn! You caught me with my long range infrared microphone. Now to use burst transmitters.

More than likely the IC.