# Is there a way to tell if the light goes out? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 5, 2002, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-the-light-goes-out/140590 "2002-12-05T01:25:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-the-light-goes-out/140590/1 "2002-12-05T01:25:21Z")
[sub]You know how something dumb will bother you because you can’t figure it out, but you know you’ll feel stupid asking? This is one of those questions. [/sub] I have a white noise machine with a clock. The clock’s face flips up to reveal the on/off button and other various buttons, then can be flipped back down if I chose not to use it as a clock. The face is lit with green light. There isn’t a button sort of trigger (like the fridge door has) to turn the light off. Is there a way to figure out, short of dismantling it, if the light is _always_ on, or if it’s only on when it’s at least partially open? ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-the-light-goes-out/140590/2 "2002-12-05T01:35:27Z")
Well, I guess you should look really carefully for a trigger of some kind on the clock, like there is in the fridge. (If you haven’t already) Also, you could hold it open just a little bit, with some thin item, like a pencil. Then look inside to see if there’s a light. Or maybe you could get some technical details from the manufacturer if you really wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-the-light-goes-out/140590/3 "2002-12-05T01:35:35Z")
no visible switch suggests that the light stays on. However you could use a multimeter to check if there is a drop in current . ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-the-light-goes-out/140590/4 "2002-12-05T01:38:02Z")
I thought a problem like this involved a cat? I’ll go away now. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-the-light-goes-out/140590/5 "2002-12-05T01:40:11Z")
Get a strand of optical fibre off a light an angel or snowman statue from Walgreens. Feed it into the opening as you close the door. See if it remains lit up. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-the-light-goes-out/140590/6 "2002-12-05T02:50:59Z")
Look at the hinge to see if there is any “button” like spot that would be pressed upon closing, a la the light switch on a fridge door. Press it.