TIL that $200 'earthquake detector' I bought was just a glorified buzzer from 1990

I spent $200 on a viral emergency alert device that promised to detect quakes before they hit, based on a Facebook ad I saw after that 4.5 tremor last spring. When I tested it, it just buzzed whenever my cat knocked stuff over, and I found the exact same circuit diagram online for $12. Who else has fallen for one of these prepper gadgets that turned out to be total junk?

3 comments

3 Comments

anthonynelson21d ago

That exact same circuit is a basic vibration sensor you can build for like $3 with parts from any electronics shop. Next time check the FCC registration number on the box, if it does not have one it is probably just repackaged junk.

wesleyflores21d ago

3M actually makes a certified version of that same sensor for about $12, and it has an FCC ID right on the back so you know it wont burn your house down.

charles_baker2821d ago

My buddy tried building one of those vibration sensors from scratch once. Spent like two hours soldering and ended up with something that went off every time the furnace kicked on. He never could figure out what he did wrong, just kept blaming the parts from the junk drawer. Meanwhile the 3M one has been sitting on his workbench for two years and never gave a false alarm once. Sometimes paying the extra few bucks just saves you the headache of chasing down your own mistakes in the dark.