Why does hitting the remote a couple times make the batteries work again?
In: Engineering
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)
Latest Answers