Why/ how is my TV turning itself on and off? Could it be a ghost👻?

Question

So I ran to the grocery store and when got home and in kitchen putting groceries away/starting dinner I heard static that I thought was coming from the stereo, but the TV was on and not on a channel, just static.. Thing is, I don't even use that TV. And when turned it off, it turned back on. It kept doing that for an hour.. It's off and staying off now, and I don't know as I believe in ghosts but have to admit it spooked me a little, like was it my husband's ghost playing with me, I mean he did die in our house🤷 Can someone give me a reasonable explanation how that could be happening?

Massageman · Accepted Answer

If you aren't using it, why is it plugged in?
If it is NOT plugged in, you may have a problem there.

1. It could be a case of Induced RF (Radio Frequency) waves.
All this really means is that a certain circuit (s) in the unit is- somehow- "in sync" with some outside source of radio waves. Just about any electrical device made recently has a label on it something to the effect that - - this unit must accept any radio waves (RF) and not cause any RF per blah-blah regulations - - - - -

As an example - - - - Years ago, when my parents were alive and my mother had the Hammond organ in her house, every once in while- a couple times a month, typically - the organ would start broadcasting a signal it picked up from an airport control tower about 15 miles away. Since there are numerous coils- magnetic and otherwise- in an electromechanical Hammond organ, any one or group of these coils had gotten "in-sync" with the Air Traffic Controller band and voila - instant radio receiver.

2. A second theory might be possible, but ONLY if you have a circuit breaker box with breakers that automatically reset. Since the TV is not being removed from the circuit, it can keep tripping off and resetting, tripping out and resetting, ad infinitum.

Or, it could be the Kerby couple trying to confuse ol' Topper. ;- )

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

Most common reason is that the remote has fallen between couch cushions and the power button is being pushed. Or, I've had customers where a different remote - maybe the DVD player or whatever, was stuck in the cushions and blasting out IR commands, which interfered with their actual TV remote. I got that 2 or 3 times during my DirecTV/DishNetwork installation days. Either way, if it's that, it will stop happening in a couple of days once the batteries run out.

Another possibility is that the circuit board in the TV is failing, and causing the TV to power on and off by itself. That would be a rare failure, but it's possible.

MORPHEUS_12 · Accepted Answer

While some consider me "sensitive" and I do believe that we all have loved ones who have passed on look out for us, I don't think this is the case. See many of the TV remotes work off the same frequency. If you live in an apartment where others are in close proximity it could be just that. Someone has a remote just like yours. Also if your TV is connected through a broadband or through your cable provider it could be the cause. Now if you told me that you can smell your deceased husband's aftershave or cologne at or around the time this happened then I would say it was likely him. I am not saying you shouldn't have an open mind because my Mother communicates with me. My condolences on your husband's passing. Best wishes.

sage2021 · Accepted Answer

Something weird happened in my apartment once that there was no way to explain it. So I looked up on the internet about what people that have passed away can do to let you know they are present. Anything electric was first and foremost. They will mess with the lights, turning them on and off and on again. And yes, they can mess with your tv. Maybe you should check it out on the internet and see for yourself what they are cable of doing. You may be surprised at all the different things they can do.
Have you used this tv in months? LOL
I haven't said how sorry I am that your husband has passed away. I know you must have heard that so many times, but I just wanted to convey some words to you.
Stay sweet!

ShaTTeredMasterpeace · Answer

That's very creepy. Maybe it was your husband trying to send you a message. I would've packed my shit up so fast lmao.

beebella · Answer

Something similar happened to me a couple months after my grandpa died. I went into his room to watch tv (I don't know why I decided to do this, maybe I thought it would be therapeutic in some way 🤷‍♀️), so I sat down on his little couch and turned on the tv. After a few minutes, the tv went to static. So, I turned it off and turned it back on and again, the same thing. It was fine for a while, then static. Eventually, I decided to just turn it off and leave, but when I turned it off, it turned back on by itself and this time there was no picture, just static. I turned it back off and thankfully, it didn't turn back on.
The tv could've just been broken, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't think MAYBE my grandpa could've been messing with me. 😂

Wiredone · Answer

I didn't believe in ghosts until my dad died. When my wife, brother and I were cleaning out his house weird crap was happening. We all heard the front door open, someone walk up the stairs, go in the kitchen, walk to the hall closet, open and close the door, then go in the bathroom. It happened multiple times. Each one of us were alone when we heard it. When we checked to see what it was the kitchen light and bathroom light were both on. Nobody turned the lights on. I called and spoke to a psychic. I gave him absolutely no information other than I had a death in the family.
He told me a father figure is coming through and that he was still in his house making sure that everything goes smoothly for me. The psychic told me my dad was in the military and he had a dog on one side of him and a cat on the other side.
He told me that my dad was, as we speak, crossing over to the other side.
We didn't hear anything since that day and the lights never turned on by themselves again

AviatorTom · Answer

A ghost is a possibility. More realistically is a loose connection or corrosion in the on/off switch. Now that it's fall and cooler temperatures, do you have the heat (furnace) turned on? That could cause vibrations that might cause the on/off switch to unexpectedly close.

If you're not using it, I suggest you unplug it. You can always plug it back in if/when you want to use it.

dustybiker · Answer

Modern technology with a sense of humor. I’ve had something similar happen with a computer. It ended up blowing up like the 4th of July, and took out three other things plugged into a useless surge protector. Helluva spark display!! Had me under the desk.

exitseven · Answer

Yes, Your television id made up of many different components mad of different materials. These materials expand and contract at different rates when they are heated.
When you turn on the TV, the components heat up and if there is a break in a solder joint or some other connection, when it heats up, the circuit opens and the TV turns off. When the system cools down, the circuit gets completed and it turns back on.

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

We have what is called loose wiring so different plugs and the bathroom light will go off a little and come back on but also there was a man who supposedly killed himself in this house but we are not too sure of that either also when I moved up here my late dogs, doggie odor stayed in this house for quite some time and we thought for sure it could be her Soul so who knows but I do believe in spirits too but since a while, I no longer smell her doggie odor so it went away

Chris_u006 · Answer

Some tv's have a built in timer for startups and shutdowns, are you completely sure no one have changed any of those settings?
If no, is your tv a smart tv?
If yes are you sure someone is not remote controlling it?
How that is possible? Well an experienced hacker will find their way.
I know enough to be aware of the possibilities but that is pretty much all I know about this type of techniques.

CrazyGirl2 · Answer

I think someone just saw the new ghostbusters movie! Sweetie, it’s much, much, MUCH more likely to be infra red interference from something else that is near the TV, well either that, or your TV is simply broken! Facebook marketplace or let it go, a used high-def flatscreen is like $75 - 100.

humanearth · Answer

Power relay switch is going bad. It might need a trip to the repair shop. I used to work in a TV And VCR repair shop in my old city life

sunshineglow · Answer

Tbh I had experiences with this, but I don't know if it would be ghosts necessarily. Also possible it's demons. Be careful.

As for the TV itself, unplug it. This saved our nerves. It stopped then later on when it would stay plugged. Wherever we do they see it in spiritual realm.

LookoutBelow · Answer

It could just be a power surge or some other fault with the electronics of the unit. I've had that happen with a very old tv before. It's spooky, but I don't believe in ghosts so I wouldn't personally put any stock into thoughts like that. Might just be time to replace it or hire an electrician to check your outlets.

DamnSam · Answer

To think of Ghosts because hour TV turn itself on and off is the most irrational thing I can imagine...

That's like discover a bug in an online game and suddenly think some dead related person wants you to solve their death in crime...

Not even B-Movie worth

I really don't want to offend you, so let it put me that way...

Your TV turn itself on and off

Could it be the electronic of the TV?
Could it be the remotes batteries?
Could it be a remote nearby with the same frequency?
Or is it a Ghost...

Fireguy17 · Answer

might be someone nearby has a remote on the same frequency as yours, and that is making yours go on and off.
Maybe try replacing the bat trees in your remote, it probably won't change things, but it is worth a try.

ohshee · Answer

Energy is energy. energy Never Dies and we are energy this whole planet is energy everything we do is energy it's ok to feel he's telling you something. I just feel like I had a Deja Vu moment

Bluemax · Answer

You're Carol Anne

crazy8000 · Answer

It can be a range of different reasons.

Someone uses a something that makes it behave like that.

Some light from a window or something.

Something funny going on with your power from the wall like to low voltage or voltage dips...

You might have gotten a virus in the software through smart TV if you have that on it.

Something wrong with your TV.
( Time to change or repair )

NathanDavis · Answer

worth to point out... some TV remotes actually have quite remote signals we used to prank some neighbors from the windows like that... lol

scooogy · Answer

I used to have that in a small dorm room with a combination of a tv, an alarm clock and an HDD recorder. The alarm clock used to turn the tv on "halfways" and one night the HDD recorder afterwards turned it on completely... it was fackin 3am 😑

AndrewMG · Answer

I mean the real question is if you have a ghost what are they wanting to watch that matters so much, I mean as a ghost I'd want to be selective with my spooking abilities rather than waste it on putting a random tv in the house on stand by lol

SweetDumplings · Answer

First of I'm really sorry about your husband's death and I would be so scared if I were you, it probably was a ghost in my opinion I dunno if it was your husband but I feel like it was a ghost.

Wise4myage · Answer

You should set up a recording device and see if you catch any orbs or shadows. Or, buy a new TV, their will be some great deals very soon.

Breebabe15 · Answer

Oh yeah, you definitely have ghosts. Tvs just dont turn off by themselves, unless you have thr power saver timer on which would turn off a tv after 4 hours

TheAfrikan · Answer

You betrer dial the hotline ☎ for Ghost Busters lol.

caring__1 · Answer

I had this problem with a TV in the past. I discovered the on-off switch was bad. Replacing the switch fixed the problem.

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

Sorry sponge i forgot to turn your tv off before running to hide in your bedroom 👻😂

Mangospacho · Answer

It’s probably a bad power switch. TVs are made pretty cheaply nowadays.

RichSD · Answer

Buggy software, that's all. If there is an afterlife, let's really hope that they're not stuck in some terrible place with nothing more than the hope of adjusting a TV's channel to keep them occupied.

Jcrummy98 · Answer

Lmao... it happens to me one time. Later I found that I had an extra remote under the bed.

integrale77 · Answer

If it was turning itself on randomly and staying on a while if say it's trying to do an OTA (over the air) update. But as it's cycling I'd say it probably failing a factory reset might help but odds are it's going to fail

Anonymous · Answer

forced updates through your main cable dvr box from verizon fios or cox or comcast or xfinity

DizzyDesii · Answer

Unplug it. If its plugged back in, its a ghost

TrueConfection · Answer

Unplug it and if it turns on, move out. 😂

Anonymous · Answer

maybe it's broken or licked. maybe the engine in its has gone crazy. It's an electrical device after all.

Fuentes · Answer

Poltergeist or someone is fucking with you and has a universal remote and can turn your tv off. You can download apps and make ur phone a universal remote too

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Could be! My ex-sister had one that did that.

KatherineJ · Answer

That’s not creepy or anything…

douride2 · Answer

It's the neighbor with a remote control.

BoobMan · Answer

Well, it COULD be a ghost, but I'd say more likely the manufacturers of your TV just decided they want to spy on you!

AndrésC64 · Answer

Someone is f-ing with you with a universal remote.

shades777 · Answer

maybe someone has a long range universal remote, ghost dont care about tv

princeofromance · Answer

Maybe, you accidently set a timer.

AtharvaBhosale_20 · Answer

Omfg that's creepy.. run out immediately

spartan55 · Answer

The cat did it.

Casey_Black · Answer

Your house is haunted! Better move!

newfreshstart · Answer

it could be a ghost

eashline92 · Answer

It's definitely a ghost

Slartybartfast · Answer

Look up tv be gone..

Dchrls78104 · Answer

You need a new TV.

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