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Occasionally our TV remote control stops working, but a quick jiggle of the batteries usually solves the problem. Why? What impact can this have on how they work or on the circuitry inside the remote control itself? These particular batteries have been in use for more than 12 months, so they may well be nearing the end of their useful lives.
鈥� The contacts on the remote handset, which connect to the batteries, are usually made of brass. This means they can oxidise, causing an interruption of the electrical circuit. During jiggling, the batteries will move around, scraping through the oxide layer. This re-establishes contact and the remote control functions again. In more critical equipment this is avoided by gold-plating the contacts.
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Joop van Montfoort, Croyde, Devon, UK
鈥� Remotes have microprocessors and, like any computer, they can freeze or lock up. This is usually due to a weird combination of key-presses that the program writer didn鈥檛 envisage. Removing the batteries reboots the program and normal service is resumed.
As a TV aerial engineer, people鈥檚 use of remotes always amuses me. Gender differences are especially humorous. Women, if in difficulties with a remote, give the remote a little subconscious push towards the TV as they press. Men usually shake the remote or bang it on a hard object. And both sexes seem to believe that the TV screen picks up the remote commands, even if the handset is for a set-top box.
Rod Buck, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK
鈥� The chemical reaction in a battery slowly dissolves the casing and produces hydrogen gas at the central electrode, the bubbles of which break the electrical circuit. To prevent this, an oxidising agent is used to convert the hydrogen into water. Too much of the oxidising agent, however, would also cause the battery casing to dissolve. To prevent this, only a small amount of oxidising agent is added, to ensure it runs out before the casing dissolves. Unfortunately, this means hydrogen bubbles build up on the electrode. Shaking can make these fall off, so the circuit can work again.
Chris Evans, Earby, Lancashire, UK