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The practice is not completely erroneous, very often batteries that are overdue for replacement will “salt” (emit gases that cause a white corrosion to appear on the contacts). When you replace the cells, the corrosion remains and degrades the performance of the new cells.
Rotating the cells may scrape off some of the salting, resulting in better performance. It is much better to simply scrape off the salting, usually perfectly good contacts are still hiding under the white powder. Or it can be cleaned with a damp Q-tip, taking care not to get any water into the remote proper.
Other times, the salting has actually corroded the contacts and the remote is trash. Very common when something has not been used for years with the original batteries still installed. If you are going to store something battery-powered for years unused, take out the batteries!
I’ve done something similar. Just removing and reinserting AA batteries in a mouse make it work a little bit longer – maybe just long enough to find new batteries!
I bought 16 AA rechargeables. Turns out they are very slightly larger in diameter than a standard AA and therefor do not fit in most of our controls. Annoying.
Most pluggers are frugal, they know how to squeeze out a few more electrons from batteries.. drops of milk from a can.. toothpaste from a tube. We live by the motto… waste not want not.
You can also remove the batteries and let them rest a day or so. Then they are as good as new for a bit longer. I have a box of “used but usable” batteries that I use for replacements. This is because battery chemicals tend to cluster at one end or the the other. While “resting” the chemicals dissipate through the battery.
I’d never heard of that trick, but I can see the logic of scraping off any corrosion buildup if the batteries have been in the device for a long time. Not sure how well it would actually work, but there’s logic behind it! Wonder if it’s a holdover from the pre-alkaline days…
It also works to take the eraser end of a pencil and rub the contacts on both the device and the batteries. It removes a thin layer of corrosion; it’s basic physics. You remember things like this when you are miles out on a trail with your camera. You can only get a few more shots but you never know which ones are going to be Pulitzer Prize material. :)
If you take batteries out of a flash light (torch for you Brits) when it starts getting dim and put them in a battery operated clock, you’re a plugger.
Spin the batteries? Never. Now, take the batteries out, then change their positions and put them back in, on the other hand…and you would be surprised how well that works.
Ahuehuete almost 2 years ago
Or maybe you believe in magic?
allen@home almost 2 years ago
I’ve done that.
Farside99 almost 2 years ago
I’ve also measured batteries to find the ones with the most charge to make them last a bit longer.
sousamannd almost 2 years ago
It works – why knock it?
amethyst52 Premium Member almost 2 years ago
I lick the batteries and put them back in. It works!
GoComicsGo! almost 2 years ago
Nah, it’s just they get a bit loose in there and you just make sure that they’re back in there right, problem fixed. – Or is that just me?
Pocosdad almost 2 years ago
Just rubbing off any possible corrosion on the contacts. Been there, done that.
PN3904 Premium Member almost 2 years ago
The practice is not completely erroneous, very often batteries that are overdue for replacement will “salt” (emit gases that cause a white corrosion to appear on the contacts). When you replace the cells, the corrosion remains and degrades the performance of the new cells.
Rotating the cells may scrape off some of the salting, resulting in better performance. It is much better to simply scrape off the salting, usually perfectly good contacts are still hiding under the white powder. Or it can be cleaned with a damp Q-tip, taking care not to get any water into the remote proper.
Other times, the salting has actually corroded the contacts and the remote is trash. Very common when something has not been used for years with the original batteries still installed. If you are going to store something battery-powered for years unused, take out the batteries!
juicebruce almost 2 years ago
Date the batteries when you put them in anything . Depending on usage you now know what to expect … Time wise ;-)
tpcox928 almost 2 years ago
I don’t understand why the spinning batteries works, but it does.
Nighthawks Premium Member almost 2 years ago
I plead GUILTY
zforray almost 2 years ago
I’ve done something similar. Just removing and reinserting AA batteries in a mouse make it work a little bit longer – maybe just long enough to find new batteries!
g04922 almost 2 years ago
Buy rechargeable… cost more than regular, but last a LONG time.
sloaches almost 2 years ago
There’s also the “battery bounce” test- Drop an alkaline battery a few inches above a countertop. If it bounces, it’s dead.
Source- trust me on this.
david_42 almost 2 years ago
I bought 16 AA rechargeables. Turns out they are very slightly larger in diameter than a standard AA and therefor do not fit in most of our controls. Annoying.
Detroit Dan almost 2 years ago
Well, it frequently works if they have quit working…
Alberta Oil almost 2 years ago
Most pluggers are frugal, they know how to squeeze out a few more electrons from batteries.. drops of milk from a can.. toothpaste from a tube. We live by the motto… waste not want not.
Robert Wilson Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt.
ladykat Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Sometimes that works.
mako887 almost 2 years ago
Been there. Done that. Several times.
Manitobaman almost 2 years ago
I do that ! I thought I was the only one who knew that trick.
Geophyzz almost 2 years ago
Why do they make anything that uses the far more expensive triple A battery?
PoodleGroomer almost 2 years ago
People wouldn’t do it if it didn’t work. It is usually a battery contact surface oxidation problem.
whelan_jj almost 2 years ago
You can also remove the batteries and let them rest a day or so. Then they are as good as new for a bit longer. I have a box of “used but usable” batteries that I use for replacements. This is because battery chemicals tend to cluster at one end or the the other. While “resting” the chemicals dissipate through the battery.
anomalous4 almost 2 years ago
I’d never heard of that trick, but I can see the logic of scraping off any corrosion buildup if the batteries have been in the device for a long time. Not sure how well it would actually work, but there’s logic behind it! Wonder if it’s a holdover from the pre-alkaline days…
mistercatworks almost 2 years ago
It also works to take the eraser end of a pencil and rub the contacts on both the device and the batteries. It removes a thin layer of corrosion; it’s basic physics. You remember things like this when you are miles out on a trail with your camera. You can only get a few more shots but you never know which ones are going to be Pulitzer Prize material. :)
edle5 almost 2 years ago
His TV is too old to have a remote:)
Yakety Sax almost 2 years ago
If you take batteries out of a flash light (torch for you Brits) when it starts getting dim and put them in a battery operated clock, you’re a plugger.
bigdawgjohn almost 2 years ago
done this a few times
kaycstamper almost 2 years ago
I never heard this one before!
del_grande Premium Member almost 2 years ago
Spin the batteries? Never. Now, take the batteries out, then change their positions and put them back in, on the other hand…and you would be surprised how well that works.
KenDHoward1 almost 2 years ago
Yes … I have done this! :D
NaturLvr almost 2 years ago
I’ve been a spinner for many a year.
tinstar almost 2 years ago
I kind of got a charge out of this one.