Can anyone identify this?

[muriel_volestrangler]

I found it on my front lawn (public footpaths on 2 sides of it) a couple of days ago. It's about 3 inches in diameter. It was making a very fasting ticking (or slow buzzing, depending on your point of view - a bit like a wind-up mechanical timer) noise, loud enough to hear from 30 feet away. It has no writing on it; the base (which is separate from the bulk of it, connected with 3 plastic-covered wires) just has a zigzag line on it. There's no obvious moving part to it (apart possibly from the wires), nor an obvious way to open it up, though I haven't tried hard (having no idea if something might spill out if I succeed).

It carried on making the noise for 2 days. Someone suggested it might be a paintball 'land mine', though we can't find anything online that looks exactly like it, and the case seems pretty strong.

I left it in a bucket of water for a couple of hours today. When I took it out, the ticking stopped after about a second. The LED that you can see in the photo is now on.

Any clues?

[Joanie Baloney]

1. I have no idea

It looks like my goldfish pond pump but no clue, actually.

A mystery!

-JB

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

2. I have no idea but...

The arcs above the LED looks like the wi-fi symbol. (?)

Do you think the arrow means "turn in this direction"? Maybe to open?

If you ever find out let us know.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Might be 'open this way', though it won't do so easily.

Yes, roughly like a wi-fi symbol. It's hard to see, but the underside of the bulk of it has some structure that might allow a way in - but only if I cut the wires holding the base on:

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

6. Another thought...

Since it was making a sound before you soaked it and on the top it kinda looks like it has slot to let the sound out and a kinda wi-fi looking symbol...could it be a wi-fi speaker.

[yallerdawg]

3. It 'looks' like a part for a home irrigation system.

There are so many brands, styles, generics now, can't be specific.

'Watering' is on variety of timers.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. There's no obvious connection on it

either for water or an electrical one. The case has no opening larger than the holes the wires run through (see above).

[yallerdawg]

7. They can hook up to electronic valve systems.

They get so complicated, they have to be professionally installed and serviced - and have indescribably complicated systems!

I used to "sell" them at a big box home retailer - and anyone who had a question, I'd shake my head and hand them a pamphlet, a www link, and a "Good luck!"

That sure looks like one of them parts!

[TexasProgresive]

8. While I don't think it is dangerous, I would not have touched it.

Since you have survived I guess my first thought is correct. Maybe someone here will recognize it. I haven't a clue.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. First thing I did was poke at it with a long stick. But the noise was annoying.

I think my neighbours would be able to hear it with an open window, though neither has said anything. Leaving it there forever didn't seem an option.

I'm still handling it wearing gloves, just in case. I'm trying to work out if I can throw it in a normal bin with a clear conscience.

[TexasProgresive]

14. Actually I think calling the non-emergency number for the police would be prudent.

I am a technician by profession an inclination with an intense curiosity about stuff. Not being able to ID that device would make me crazy but not crazy enough to touch it. Maybe if it wasn't buzzing or blinking, maybe.

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. It may come to that. I won't throw it away yet.

If it's any consolation, a friend of mine has forwarded my email on it to "the former Emergency Planning Office" for a local authority that he knew someone in.

[RKP5637]

20. Similar thoughts! It's strange looking and we can't seem to ID it. n/t

[Orrex]

10. How big is it?

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. About 3 inches across

Casing is plastic, it's not particularly heavy.

My first thought on seeing it was "smoke detector?", but I couldn't work out why it made the ticking sound, and the strange base attached by wires doesn't make sense either.

[Orrex]

12. Almost looks like an automatic sprinkler head

Which would explain why submersion didn't faze it.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. Except there are no holes in it that look suitable for that

As noted above, the slits at the top right in the OP photo look more like a "sounds comes out here" grid.

[RKP5637]

15. Is the raised rectangular portion on the bottom magnetic? I would be careful

with it in case by chance it's an explosive device. It looks almost like a detector of some type. I had thought maybe smoke detector, chemical detector, etc. given you heard a ticking sound, maybe like a defective speaker trying to sound.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Doesn't seem to be magnetic.

The wires holding the 'base' to the rest of it (4, not 3 as I said in the OP) look like they coil around inside the device a couple of times - a bit like a strimmer, if that makes sense.

[RKP5637]

19. To me, it looks like a detector of sorts. The part on the bottom might be a detector

of sorts, for example, to detect an electric field. The top looks like wifi communication. Behind what looks to be open slashes on the top might be where a solid state audio device is that made the clicking. The red LED, some type of status indicator. Maybe it was for detecting underground power lines or something. ... or a signal sent down a water line, etc. I'm grasping at straws, aren't I. Be careful with it. These days you're never sure what you might come across. I searched a bunch of images on Google, but couldn't find anything like it. My thought is maybe it was from a utility crew working in the area, or bounced off a truck. Another thought was a metal detector of sorts.

[PJMcK]

18. Is it Stewie's return pad?

(wink)

Be safe, friend.

[Orrex]

21. How about a retail anti-theft device?

I sent the pic to a tech coworker, and that was his suggestion.

[RKP5637]

22. I think your friend got it. A retail spider type security device.

My hunch is the arrow is the direction to turn to tighten the spider lines on the base around whatever it's detecting. Here's a similar image I just found.

http://highlight86.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008826088851/pdtl/AM-hard/1148449222/Box-guard-anti-theft-spider-wrap.htm

[muriel_volestrangler]

25. Must be it. Even closer to the design under 'Spider/Wrap' here:

http://www.fasitsecurity.com/tags-and-wraps.html#

though it's a bit bigger than ones I've seen used in shops.

[RKP5637]

26. Yep!!! Sure looks like it!!! This was fun, ID the thing! n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

23. Oooh, that does look convincing. I'll investigate more. Thanks. (nt)

[Orrex]

24. Great! I'll tell my pal that he might have solved it.

[IndieRick]

27. Obvious

It is a round tuit of course. I will explain what that is when I get around to it....

OK that was pretty bad.

[RKP5637]

28. Ohhh nooooo ...