> ... that runs on batteries and doesn't decide
> to wake you up in the middle of the night, squalling for a new battery?
>
>
After years of wondering aloud why batteries in smoke detectors, pagers, and
other beepy squawky things always seem to go bad between 1am and 3am, my
father (an electrical engineer) happened to be around  when I was grumbling
over my pager and provided the likely answer. Batteries  produce electricity
via chemical reaction.  As anyone who's ever tried to start a car in winter
knows, that chemistry works better at warmer temperatures. As the night
wears on, the temperature drops. Thus it is proven, batteries wait till 3am
because they know you're asleep and want you to suffer.

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"