# Rearranging batteries in a remote.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rearranging-batteries-in-a-remote/817537>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 8, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rearranging-batteries-in-a-remote/817537 "2018-07-08T22:17:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rearranging-batteries-in-a-remote/817537/1 "2018-07-08T22:17:04Z")

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Why does rearranging the batteries in a dead remote control (or any other DC device) temporarily (sometimes) revive it?

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rearranging-batteries-in-a-remote/817537/2 "2018-07-08T22:27:35Z")

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It scrubs a bit of oxidation off of the contacts.

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rearranging-batteries-in-a-remote/817537/3 "2018-07-08T23:09:33Z")

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A small piece of Scotch Brite pad is hand for cleaning battery contacts. There are also fiberglass brushes made for the same purpose.

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**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rearranging-batteries-in-a-remote/817537/4 "2018-07-09T00:04:13Z")

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So I guess I should always try cleaning the contacts before replacing the batteries?

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rearranging-batteries-in-a-remote/817537/5 "2018-07-09T00:10:54Z")

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> [@Nars\_Glinley](#):
>
> So I guess I should always try cleaning the contacts before replacing the batteries?

No, just replace them.  
If the batteries are so dead that a bit of oxidation is preventing the remote from working, it’s probably time for new ones.

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rearranging-batteries-in-a-remote/817537/6 "2018-07-09T00:32:07Z")

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> [@Nars\_Glinley](#):
>
> So I guess I should always try cleaning the contacts before replacing the batteries?

If you don’t have spares on hand, sure, give it a try. Nothing to lose.

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rearranging-batteries-in-a-remote/817537/7 "2018-07-09T03:56:25Z")

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You don’t have to rearrange the batteries. Usually just rotating them around a bit while leaving them in place will do the trick.

But yeah, if they are so close to dead that a tiny bit of oxidation is enough to make them stop working, you are probably best to just replace them at that point.

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**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2018, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rearranging-batteries-in-a-remote/817537/8 "2018-07-09T11:10:18Z")

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> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#):
>
> You don’t have to rearrange the batteries. Usually just rotating them around a bit while leaving them in place will do the trick.

I’ve found the classic [“percussive maintenance”](https://www.google.com/search?q=percussive%20maintenance&cad=h) is often enough to get the job done in this situation. This is particularly handy for certain remotes that use a screw on the battery compartment door instead of an easy-to-open spring tab. A good smack or two jostles the batteries in their compartment, restoring electrical continuity.