Hoax – Aluminum foil can replace a battery in remote controls and make the device work again.
Analysis
With the rise of short and flashy content, many creators have been promoting so-called “miracle” hacks for everyday life. For some time now, a “tip” promising to fix broken remote controls has been circulating on the internet, especially on Instagram and TikTok.
The idea is seemingly simple: instead of using two batteries, you only use one and place a piece of aluminum foil in the second battery slot. According to the videos, the foil would conduct electricity efficiently, saving money and time. See the messages and transcripts:
Don’t buy batteries anymore, use aluminum foil in your TV remote and be surprised by how it works! Never buy batteries again in your life, just use aluminum foil instead. Don’t believe it? Then check this out. Few people know this, and those who do won’t tell you. This trick works for all types of remotes. Could be Xbox, BTV, DVD, but here I’m testing it with a TV remote. When the remote stops working, it’s usually one dead battery, so that’s where the foil comes in.
You remove the dead battery and replace it with aluminum foil. Cut the foil to the size of the battery. Once it’s cut, roll it up—make it at least one centimeter longer—then place it where the battery would be. Once you replace the battery with the foil, test it and thank me later. With just one battery, your remote will work. And the science behind it is interesting. The foil conducts electricity from the single battery to the entire remote. Follow me for more tips.
Fact-check
The content spread quickly, with promises of saving money and praise for the “science” behind the trick. But it’s not quite like that. Below, we answer three key questions: 1) What’s the logical explanation behind using aluminum foil in place of a battery? 2) Is it true that aluminum foil replaces a battery in a remote control? 3) What happened in the remote control tests we found and conducted?
What is the logical explanation for the content claiming aluminum foil can replace batteries?
Aluminum foil is indeed a conductor of electricity, which might give the false impression that it can replace a battery. The rumor is based on a partially true concept, but one that is misinterpreted: aluminum foil can complete an electrical circuit but does not generate power on its own.
It merely helps conduct electricity from an existing power source. So, if one battery still has some charge, the foil might, in very specific cases, allow electricity to reach the circuit. But this only works in theory.
Is it true that aluminum foil replaces a battery in remote controls?
Contrary to the claim, no. Aluminum foil does not replace a battery because it is not a source of power. As noted above, it only conducts electricity. If one of the batteries still holds a charge, the foil might close the circuit, but that doesn’t mean the remote control will work properly. The trick has no real effectiveness.
What happened in the remote control tests we found and did?
Tests conducted by specialized channels like Almanaque SOS showed that replacing a battery with aluminum foil didn’t work as claimed. In our own attempts at Boatos.org, we also failed to make the remote operate with the trick.
Conclusion
Videos suggesting the use of aluminum foil as a battery replacement in remote controls promote an ineffective hack. Aluminum foil can conduct electricity, but it is not a power source. Tests by trusted sources and our own team showed that the technique does not reliably work and is not recommended. Despite its popularity, the content is misleading.
Fake news ❌
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