The Haunted Switch, or, has anyone seen this?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I have several outdoor “water features”, controlled by a double paddle switches. Purely mechanical. old skool. They are behind outdoor waterproof covers. Similar to this

Twice this week, my wife was working out there and one turned on all by itself. Last night I was out there at midnight, turning off the other pumps, not standing near this switch at all, and it turned on.

I tells ya, it can freak you out!

The switch seems fine, it doesn’t feel “soft” like a broken spring or anything. So, ruling out ghosts, has anyone ever seen mechanical switches activate themselves? Or turn themselves off?

I don’t believe it could happen, but it did.

2

Is it only one switch doing this?

Do the paddles have the same amount of play? Maybe it’s never getting fully turned off, due to bugs or debris behind the rocker.

3

So the switch actually shifted from the off to the on position?
That would be very strange indeed.

4

YES! I can’t imagine how it would happen.

Beowulff might be on to something with debris inside the case. While it is in a weatherproof cover, it’s still outside in AZ. It’s been in service nearly 20 years. I may just replace it anyway, and not disassemble it to see.