# Our Mysterious Motion Sensor **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 8, 2023, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-mysterious-motion-sensor/980873 "2023-03-08T13:11:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-mysterious-motion-sensor/980873/61 "2023-03-10T15:29:37Z")
Oh, sure. Go for the low-hanging fruit 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-mysterious-motion-sensor/980873/62 "2023-03-10T16:10:37Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > How much power does tube guy consume ? I couldn’t get the info > from the amazon link (other than “about as much as a small fan”) I was able to zoom in on the power supply and saw that its output is 12 volts, with a max current of 1000 milliamps. So the power consumption must be less than 12 watts. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-mysterious-motion-sensor/980873/63 "2023-03-10T17:19:19Z")
That’s exactly right because a small fan blows air up into Tube Guy at varying rates in order to produce the desired undulating effect. I’d say its power use would have to be very small. I had Tube guy on a shelf in the corner so it wouldn’t be too prominent just in case my boss wasn’t in love with the idea of it. To my surprise, he decided to move it to a more prominent position in the room so it would be better seen! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-mysterious-motion-sensor/980873/64 "2023-03-10T18:39:19Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I wish the bureaucracy were a bit more flexible in special cases like that, e.g. by allowing the timer to be extended beyond ten minutes, or by locating the motion sensor in a place (e.g. the ceiling) where it’s better able to see the occupants of the room. That reminds me, that when i was in another floor and had trouble with the lights going out, the company had maintenance move the sensor so it picked up any motion i made sitting at my desk. That was a huge improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-mysterious-motion-sensor/980873/65 "2023-03-10T18:41:19Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > I had Tube guy on a shelf in the corner so it wouldn’t be too prominent just in case my boss wasn’t in love with the idea of it. To my surprise, he decided to move it to a more prominent position in the room so it would be better seen! 🙂 I’m glad it works for you, but at 2.5 feet tall, this seems like it would be a terrible visual distraction for me: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/J8cF37mF_EI/maxresdefault.jpg "Mini Air Dancers Inflatable Tube Man by LookOurWay - Desktop Size!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8cF37mF_EI) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-mysterious-motion-sensor/980873.md?page=3)