A close friend has two and loves them.
Answer to the question at checkout "How did you hear about us?"
Richard - Oakland, CA
I love it! It really does what it promises - pretty rare these days. A great invention!
Roger - Riverview, FL
You can leave FakeTV set up all the time.
FakeTV consumes less power than a night light, and the Super-Bright LEDs have very long life. Unlike a real TV, there is no down-side to leaving FakeTV on every time you are out for the evening.And, you do not want to come home to unexpected visitors! FakeTV is ideal for shift workers who might typically come home well after dark. Or, if you tend to turn in early, you might want FakeTV to send the "occupied" message-- as your home certainly is!
See FakeTV News, Hi Res Images and Press Release.
Please also see our Frequently Asked Questions page for more support.
Are you a qualified reseller who would like to sell FakeTV? See our Partners Wanted page.
Where to Position FakeTV
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Great: Good: For a first-floor window, aim the FakeTV unit at translucent shade, drapes or blinds, so that it lets FakeTV light out, but you cannot see the FakeTV unit from outside |
Mistakes to Avoid with FakeTV
| The FakeTV unit must not be directly visible from outside the house! |
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Do not let another light source wash out the light from FakeTV. Do not use FakeTV with a window that is too well lit with exterior lighting. |
How to Use FakeTV
PLACEMENT: Place the FakeTV unit on a
table or other suitable horizontal surface, using the illustrations
as a guide. Plug the AC adaptor into the FakeTV unit, and into an
outlet.
INTERNAL LIGHT SENSOR: Most convenient is to use the light sensor
built into FakeTV. If it gets dark early (say, around five pm),
place the switch on the FakeTV unit in the DUSK + 7 HRS position. If
it gets dark later (say, around nine) use the DUSK + 4 HRS position. One or two LED’s will turn on, depending on switch setting. FakeTV
will not turn on until it is really, really dark (0.5 lux), because
it is only effective when it is dark outside. If a light on a timer,
or some other light source illuminates the room with the FakeTV
unit, then FakeTV will not turn on.
EXTERNAL TIMERS: If for any reason you wish to have the FakeTV on at
some times other than those provided by the light sensor, you may
turn the FakeTV unit on, and plug the ac adapter in the timer. Alternatively, you may give the appearance of a television left on all
the time by simply leaving the switch on FakeTV in the on position
and plugging the adaptor in an unswitched outlet.
CHECK IT OUT. Take a look outside when it is dark, and FakeTV is on. Make sure you can see the light from FakeTV, but not the FakeTV unit
itself. It’s a good idea to try out FakeTV a couple of days while
the house is still occupied, so you know that it is coming on at the
times you want.
The diffuser lens built into FakeTV prevents the light output from
ever being dangerous– it is less concentrated than, say, an LED
flashlight. But avoid staring at FakeTV directly. It is not healthy
to stare at any bright light source.
Thanks for using a FakeTV. You need not restrict its use to
vacations. You can simply leave FakeTV set up, discouraging would-be
burglars every time you are out for the evening. Despite the very
bright output, and thanks to the recent advancements in LED
technology, FakeTV draws less power than a night light.
Frequently Asked Support Questions
My FakeTV won't turn on with the light sensor and internal timer.
This is by far our most common support question.
FakeTV will not turn on until it has been almost pitch-black in the
room for about ten seconds. This is because FakeTV is not effective
until it is dark outside, making it almost pitch black in the room
with the FakeTV. If you try to test the FakeTV timer during the day
by shutting the blinds, FakeTV will likely not turn on. You
can use a dark, windowless room such as a closet to test FakeTV, or
simply wait until nightfall.
The FakeTV light sensor and timer works almost perfectly in
practice; the only issue is testing. Like every other feature of
FakeTV, it is tested before it leaves the factory. Several people have
sent their units back, insisting it really, really was dark in the
room when they tested it. We try to be good sports about that sort
of thing. Every one of the returns turns on when the room gets
truly dark.
My FakeTV does not turn off when I have it set to Dusk +4 or Dusk +7.
Your FakeTV is almost certainly working just fine, and it is likely off
in the middle of the night while you are sleeping. But your FakeTV
is on in the morning, so what is happening?
FakeTV turns on and starts the timer cycle as soon as it gets dark.
If it gets light and then dark again (say you enter the room and
turn on the lights), the timer cycle starts over. Once it gets dark
enough in the evening to turn on FakeTV, it usually only gets
darker, and FakeTV stays on and completes the cycle. But, it is
very common for FakeTV to come on in the early morning. Light levels
fluctuate in the morning as it is just getting light. At sunrise,
it will often become light enough and then dark enough to trigger
the FakeTV timer cycle. It will then look like someone must be
watching television in the morning, as many people do.
We find that the light sensing thresholds give really good results
in practice. We use FakeTV's ourselves, of course! If
you want the FakeTV to come on at times other than those provided by
the light sensor, please turn FakeTV to "ON" and plug it into an
appropriate timer.
How long will FakeTV last? What kind of bulbs does it have? Can they easily be changed?
The FakeTV uses LED's that will last for a long time. If you turn
your FakeTV on every night, the LED's will last for 20 years,
and much
longer if used less frequently. The LED's in the FakeTV cannot be
changed.
Can I leave my FakeTV in the ON position all the time?
Yes. FakeTV is designed for continuous duty. The super-bright,
very efficient LEDs in the FakeTV will last for many years. FakeTV
does not run hot and it poses no fire hazard.
What if I want my FakeTV on at different times?
You can easily plug the FakeTV into an lamp timer, set it
accordingly and put the FakeTV switch to the ON position.
I travel in my RV a lot and want to make it look like it is occupied when I'm away from it. Can I power FakeTV from the 12V battery?
You may power FakeTV from a vehicle 12V source, such as your RV
or boat, or other suitable source.
You will need a female power plug that is:
- OD = 5.5 mm / ID = 2.1 mm (This is the most common power-supply style there is, so the odds of finding it are good.)
- Right angle is preferred
- Center positive
- You can get such a plug from www.jameco.com, part number 138587. Note that this is just the plug-- not a cigarette lighter adapter. You will need to wire to it.
FakeTV draws an average current of about 150 mA when the LEDs
are running, and next to nothing when they are not.
Where to buy FakeTV
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| United States | Canada | United Kingdom and Republic Of Ireland | Europe & Russia | Asia & Australia |
Additional information:
FakeTV Instructions Specifications FakeTV CE Certification FakeTV RoHS Compliance
Powering FakeTV Warranty
The FakeTV® brand of television light simulator is custom manufactured in Malaysia by Xenso Sdn. Bhd.