# Invisible to automatic toilet flushers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 22, 2000, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084 "2000-09-22T01:28:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stuman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@Stuman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuman)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/1 "2000-09-22T01:28:05Z")
Hi people– I have one particular T-shirt that seems to make me invisible to at least one model of automatic toilet flushers that sit atop urinals in bathrooms. The one at my workplace will not flush after I have finished if I’m wearing this particular bluish-gray shirt! 1) Does this happen to anyone else? 2) I assume this color is not bouncing back the infrared beam or whatever the device emits-- why? The flusher is a Sloan model in a black housing… Help-- I’m afraid I might be becoming a vampire! Stuman ---
**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/2 "2000-09-22T02:07:14Z")
Just a WAG here… Could it be related to the fact that photographers occasionally use a similar shade (known as 18% grey) to establish a neutral light/shade balance? Maybe this is why the sensor does not perceive your presence. ---
**Author:** ![BrothaTJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@BrothaTJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrothaTJ)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/3 "2000-09-22T04:23:46Z")
The little elf behind that sensor who controls the flushing is just trying to freak you out. I suggest using the stalls. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/4 "2000-09-22T04:50:21Z")
It’s more disconcerting to be in a stall with an automatic flushing toilet and to have that toilet flush prematurely. And it’s really disconcerting when you are 3 years old! I have to hold my hand in front of the damn sensor so that my daughter can pee in peace. I can guess why the thing has trouble “seeing” my daughter–she’s smaller and more wiggly than your average adult. I, however, am not, and it still happens rather frequently. Maybe it has to do with the color of my shirt that day…I’ve never thought about that. ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/5 "2000-09-22T05:06:36Z")
You might look around at Sloan’s website: [http://www.sloanvalve.com](http://www.sloanvalve.com) You could even email their tech support. Here’s a troubleshooting guide for one of their automatic flushers: [http://www.sloanvalve.com/tshooting/tsopflsh.htm](http://www.sloanvalve.com/tshooting/tsopflsh.htm) Arjuna34 ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/6 "2000-09-22T14:29:18Z")
So how do these things work? I understand it’s an easy thing to detect whether a person is there, but I can’t imagine how they can be battery-powered and operate a valve. The Sloan web site says that they’re powered by four AA batteries which last three years of normal use. This is amazing to me - it seems like the energy required to operate a mechanical valve would be so great that it would last several flushes. How do they make a mechanism that can flush with so little electrical power? ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/7 "2000-09-22T15:05:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CurtC \* > \*\*So how do these things work? I understand it’s an easy thing to detect whether a person is there, but I can’t imagine how they can be battery-powered and operate a valve. > > The Sloan web site says that they’re powered by four AA batteries which last three years of normal use. This is amazing to me - it seems like the energy required to operate a mechanical valve would be so great that it would last several flushes. How do they make a mechanism that can flush with so little electrical power? \*\* Maybe the main valve operation is powered by water pressure, and the electronics just power some type of very actuator to trigger the main valve? Arjuna34 ---
**Author:** ![Tzel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzel)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/8 "2000-09-22T18:59:26Z")
Damn stupid inventions those things are anyway. Typically, I do my business, then stand up to do the post-defecation cleansing, and the damn thing flushes. I toss in the paper, but I can’t get the stupid thing to flush again. I could sit on the damn toilet for a few more minutes then get up again, but that’s a waste of time AFAIC. The only plus side is that it’s more sanitary. However, I’m mystified, because I never go into one of these bathrooms and see the toilets with paper already in them. Seems no one else has the same problem. ---
**Author:** ![malaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@malaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malaka)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/9 "2000-09-22T19:20:53Z")
I will usually drape some TP over the sensor before I get to work to prevent the “premature flush”. ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/10 "2000-09-22T20:52:47Z")
Maybe someone should email the guys at Sloan a link to this discussion, so they can get to work on the next generation! Arjuna34 ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/11 "2000-09-22T21:22:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Arjuna34 \* > \*\*You could even email their tech support. Here’s a troubleshooting guide for one of their automatic flushers: > > [http://www.sloanvalve.com/tshooting/tsopflsh.htm](http://www.sloanvalve.com/tshooting/tsopflsh.htm) > > Arjuna34 \*\* Tech support guys for automatic _toilet flushers_!? I can picture the scenario now. . .Guy takes his dump, but the thing won’t flush. He whips out his cell phone and dials tech support. “Have you tried re-booting the toilet?” they ask. Tezl, have you considered contacting tech support from the stall sometime to fix the pre-postdefecation cleansing flush? I love this tech support site though! Quotes like \*PROBLEM: Men’s Room Closet Bowls Unflushed. CAUSE: Closet being used as urinal.\* and \*PROBLEM: Elementary School Urinals Not Flushing. CAUSE: Unusually short users not being detected. \* just crack me up! Is it unusual for elementary school children to be less than 4 ft. tall? Too funny! ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/12 "2000-09-22T21:27:01Z")
Tzel, Myself, I do the cleansing while still sitting. Not because of the influence of these new damned light sensors, but cuz it’s the way I always have. maybe the others in your workplace do the same? btw, doesn’t that make the hard to reach regions harder to reach? and what of squishing? no, never mind. perhaps for another thread, but probably not. I’m sorry, everybody… urk. ---
**Author:** ![yESTERDAY\_mAN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a87d85/32.png) [@yESTERDAY\_mAN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yESTERDAY_mAN)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/13 "2000-09-22T21:39:18Z")
Tzel, whenever I use a toilet with an automatic flush, it always flushes when I lean forwards to grab the paper. It gets rather annoying after it happens a few times, and if anyone else is in the bathroom it sounds like you don’t know what you’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/14 "2000-09-22T22:24:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by troub \* > Tech support guys for automatic _toilet flushers_!? I can picture the scenario now. . .Guy takes his dump, but the thing won’t flush. He whips out his cell phone and dials tech support. “Have you tried re-booting the toilet?” they ask. > \*\* Of course, if you’ve got a web-enabled cell phone, you could just use the web trouble-shooting guide directly 🙂 If they’re anything like PC phone tech support, you had better call right when you sit down, so by the time you get through to someone you’ll be ready to flush … Arjuna34 ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2000, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-to-automatic-toilet-flushers/34084/15 "2000-09-22T22:27:26Z")
I think I have a dark gray shirt that does the same thing. I didn’t really think about it until now, I just thought some days the flushers work, some they don’t, but I remember yesterday was one of the days it didn’t and I wore a gray shirt…