# TI-84 Works Intermittently **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 3, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240 "2012-08-03T01:40:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![IceQube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/1 "2012-08-03T01:40:35Z")
I’ve tried perhaps 360 permutations of the six AAA batteries I have in my TI-84 calculator. However, the calculator will refuse to turn on sometimes. And when it does turn on, the calculator will work - but only for a short while. If I leave the calculator alone and come back a few hours later, the calculator will not turn on anymore. And if I leave the calculator alone for another period of time, the calculator will suddenly resume operation. And so on. What’s going on? I understand that the batteries might be an issue, but the batteries work just fine in other devices. I’ll have to make it a point to buy AAA batteries (I keep on forgetting). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/2 "2012-08-03T01:44:24Z")
Have you tried _new_ batteries? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Niply\_Elder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@The\_Niply\_Elder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Niply_Elder)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/3 "2012-08-03T04:17:04Z")
Probably a circuitry problem. Its best to recycle it and buy a new TI89, otherwise you’re liable to have this happen in the middle of a test or something. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/4 "2012-08-03T04:24:31Z")
Intermittent operation as described is generally caused by a cold solder joint or a trace break somewhere. Not economically fixable. Batteries can rebound after rest but I’m assuming you tried new batteries\* before\* rearranging them 360 times or posting this question. ---
**Author:** ![breezman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@breezman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezman)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/5 "2012-08-03T13:07:52Z")
> [@The\_Niply\_Elder](#): > > Its best to recycle it and buy a new TI89… [opinion] I disagree. I much prefer the 83/84 to the 89 [/opinion] ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/6 "2012-08-03T14:09:31Z")
Have you run a percussive diagnostic on it? If tapping or knocking it around makes it come to life, or if the same makes it shut down, there’s a loose connection somewhere. This could be anything from a loose battery contact, a bit of corrosion on the battery contacts, or a bad solder joint - probably where the battery wiring meets the circuit board. Another possibility is that the on/off button is going bad. On a rubber mat style keypad, that is probably fatal, but it’s worth trying to peel it off, wash the mat in warm soapy water, then re-assemble once completely dry. I’ve ressurected soda-soaked remotes this way. All of this assumes the calculator is held together with screws, rather than being glued together. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/7 "2012-08-03T14:32:40Z")
You guys are putting out a lot of really technical ideas for someone that hasn’t actually tried putting _new_ batteries in his calculator yet. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/8 "2012-08-04T19:29:58Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > You guys are putting out a lot of really technical ideas for someone that hasn’t actually tried putting _new_ batteries in his calculator yet. Picked that up did you? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/9 "2012-08-04T19:52:38Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Picked that up did you? 😃 Nah, I always check the solder joints in my small electronics when they start shutting off on their own before dropping a new set of batteries in them. Occam’s Razor be damned. 😃 OP, that calculator may have a voltage threshold that if it falls below it, it shuts off rather then give wonky results. The other things you’re putting the batteries in probably don’t have that. ---
**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/10 "2012-08-04T20:46:07Z")
> [@The\_Niply\_Elder](#): > > Probably a circuitry problem. Its best to recycle it and buy a new TI89, otherwise you’re liable to have this happen in the middle of a test or something. This is greatly dependent on what the calculator is needed for. Most calc instructors that I know (including myself) won’t allow the 89 because it can handle symbolic differentiation and integration. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/11 "2012-08-04T20:55:38Z")
Post from 2006. [How has TI been able to keep the price of the TI-83 so high for so long?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=367927&highlight=ti-83) ---
**Author:** ![IceQube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/12 "2012-08-04T23:20:03Z")
Problem solved: it was a lack of potential difference. I finally bit the bullet and brought a set of 8 AAA batteries for $5. Is is just me, but have prices risen significantly? The batteries, fortunately, rejuvenated my calculator. No more dollar store zinc chloride “Rayovac Heavy Duty” batteries for me. When the packaging directly contradicts itself, you know it’s probably a dud … > [@Rayovac](#): > > Rayovac **Heavy Duty** is the solution for **low-drain** or seldom-used devices [http://www.rayovac.com/Products/Heavy-Duty-Batteries.aspx](http://www.rayovac.com/Products/Heavy-Duty-Batteries.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/13 "2012-08-04T23:38:17Z")
alkaline batteries are real good for devices like that. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/14 "2012-08-05T02:52:19Z")
> [@IceQube](#): > > Problem solved: it was a lack of potential difference. > > I finally bit the bullet and brought a set of 8 AAA batteries for $5. Is is just me, but have prices risen significantly? The batteries, fortunately, rejuvenated my calculator. > > No more dollar store zinc chloride “Rayovac Heavy Duty” batteries for me. When the packaging directly contradicts itself, you know it’s probably a dud … > > [http://www.rayovac.com/Products/Heavy-Duty-Batteries.aspx](http://www.rayovac.com/Products/Heavy-Duty-Batteries.aspx) Seriously? You actually posted your OP question without even changing the batteries first? ---
**Author:** ![socrates15](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@socrates15](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/socrates15)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ti-84-works-intermittently/630240/15 "2014-04-16T03:04:10Z")
Mine was doing the same thing - (and I swapped the batteries out with new quality ones… but still the same). I took it apart and the spot where the battery leads touches the contact on the board was worn. I bent the lead (slightly to the side) so the wire leads touch the contact at a different spot, and now it works great. Hope this helps others out…