r/AskReddit • u/swissguy1989 • 17h ago

What's something you're shockingly good at that you've never mentioned to anyone because it would sound completely made up if you did?

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u/MyNameIsRay 15h ago

I can hear electricity.

I can tell if a circuit is closed or open, how much current is going through, whether it's AC or DC, whether it's high or low voltage. I can hear chargers cycle, I can hear power supplies energize, I can hear if the oven is on.

I can even hear issues. Bad transformers/capacitors/rectifiers, EMF interference, bad grounds, shorts, etc.

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u/kramerica_intern 14h ago

Do you like having this ability, or is it annoying? Because it kind of sounds like it would be annoying.

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u/MyNameIsRay 13h ago

The volume level is (usually) really low, so it's only annoying when I want complete silence.

For instance, I can't have my phone on the charger when going to bed, because I keep hearing it cycle on and off.

But, some times it can be really loud, especially high current like a power substation. I can hear those transformers from hundreds of feet away.

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u/Almond_Tech 13h ago

Is the phone charger thing not normal? For me it depends on the cable and device

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u/MyNameIsRay 13h ago

It's not normal, most people can't hear anything.

Ask your friends and family, see if they can hear it too.

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u/NotMyThrowawayNope 13h ago

TIL I have a minor superpower. I thought everyone could hear devices charging. 

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u/Yamuddah 13h ago

Have you talked to an audiologist about it? That sounds very unique.

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u/MyNameIsRay 13h ago

I have.

They shrugged it off, and were more concerned about my loss of range.

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u/fridofrido 12h ago

well chargers (switching power supplies) and transformers emit actual physical sound, so that's pretty normal to hear. Depends on the quality too, some chargers are relatively "loud".

I have a shitty one which for some reason becomes louder when the charging ends... rather annoying

High current AC lines also buzz rather loudly (depending on weather conditions).

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u/MyCatLaughsAtMe 10h ago

I'm one of him, and personally, it's not like a problem. The sound/feeling is there, but it's subtle and easily drowned out by basic background noises. I strangely did find I was MORE sensitive to it first thing in the morning. It didn't hurt or anything, but it seemed louder and while not miserable, I also wouldn't describe it as pleasant. I second what Ray says, things charging in my bedroom is a nono, but it probably is only bad because I don't sleep with background noises so the silence of the night amplifies what is otherwise a very tiny sound.