How To: Make a remote control work with just one battery

It's late at night and your remote control runs out of batteries. When you go to replace them you realize you only have one batter left. Now you'll have the quick fix knowledge to power your remote with just one battery until you can find another.

A remote control usually takes two batteries to complete a circuit but with a little trick you can use just one.

You Will Need

* A remote control
* A battery
* A paper clip

Step 1: Insert battery

Open the battery compartment and insert one battery.

Step 2: Unbend the paper clip

Unwind the paperclip, leaving a loop in one end.

Step 3: Complete circuit

Complete the circuit in the remote control by connecting the looped end of the paperclip to the spring at the negative terminal and the other end of the paper clip to the positive terminal.

This is a temporary fix until you find another battery.

Step 4: Surf

Channel surf without having to run out for another battery.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, roughly 3 billion batteries are purchased yearly to power household items.