Why does hitting the remote a couple times make the batteries work again?
In: Engineering
The lower the voltage in any given system, the more it is prone to failure from any little extra resistance from a marginal connection. Most remotes use (2) AA batteries, giving you around 3 volts to work with. That is very low voltage, which makes that kind of system very prone to problems if a contact or connector or battery is a bit oxidized or loose.
Percussive maintenance can often scratch through a bit of the oxide, or improve a weak spring/mechanical connection.
good one, I googled it now (found something interesting on Quora):
here actually is a term for this – ‘Percussive maintenance’ 🙂
In my opinion, it has to do with the electrical contacts – they undergo oxidation over time. If the 2 contacts are aligned at a point where both are majorly oxidized, it makes a high resistance contact, which prevents the device from getting enough current to operate. Just slightly rotating the battery may allow non-oxidized areas to come in contact and allow operation. Or perhaps, if you prefer it, beating the crap out of the remote may achieve this too.
The oxide can be removed by polishing with a toothbrush.
Also, TV remotes have a springy metal flap to push the battery against the opposite contact. This may loosen out with time, causing contact issues.
I presently face this issue with the AC power plug of my PC, which has got oxidized at some points on the contact. It suddenly breaks contact and switches off the PC, and to solve it I usually push the plug at an angle to regain contact. (Too lazy for a permanent fix)
Here is a famous example of ‘percussive maintenance’:
While troubleshooting a non-operating TV camera on the Apollo 12 mission to the Moon – here’s the conversation between astronaut Alan Bean and support crew member Edward Gibson:
Gibson: “There’s no change down here, Al. (Pause) That’s coming in there, now, Al. Okay, what change did you make?”
Bean: “I hit it on the top with my hammer. I figured we didn’t have a thing to lose.”
Gibson: “Skilful fix, Al.”
Bean: “I hit it on the top with this hammer I’ve got. (Responding to Gibson) Yeah, that’s skilled craftsmanship.”
[source](https://www.quora.com/Why-does-hitting-a-remote-with-ones-hand-make-it-work-again-sometimes/answer/Rushil-Kishore-1?ch=10&share=9d7cbe1b&srid=43O3)
This is not true for all batteries, but some batteries create current through a chemical reaction between the battery acid and the case that produces hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas bubbles build up on the inside of case, which stops the reaction from taking place. Knocking the batteries around can shake the hydrogen bubbles lose, allowing better contact between the battery acid and the case.
Lots of times the problem is the weak signal is not hitting the receiver at a good angle to be picked up.
Shaking the remote gives the user something to do while repositioning the remote for a better angle at the receiver.
While in regular use, the contact between the battery terminals and remote contact points, produces non-conductive gunk which builds up over time. When you hit the remote a few times, it dislodges and your battery can conduct again.
It doesn’t.
However, often the problem is caused by the contact between the battery and the terminal.
Percussive maintenance moves the battery within the battery compartment creating a better connection.
Latest Answers