Do you need the lithium battery for the calculator to work

Good morning, afternoon, evening or night; whatever time of day you are viewing this solution post. Thank you for choosing FixYa to assist you. You are having problems because you calculator won't turn on. I think you should try changing the batteries. Did you know that your calculator has two batteries powering it? Not only are the 4 AAA batteries powering it, but there is also a CR 3V Lithium Back Up battery powering it as well. First, try changing the 4 AAA batteries. If that still does not power your calculator properly, you will need to replace the lithium back up battery. You can find this at a department store or store that carries electronics. To do this, open your regular battery compartment. Above the AAA batteries is a compartment that says "BACK UP BATTERY CR1616 OR CR1620" with a picture of it. Use a small crosshead screwdriver to open the compartment. Take the old battery out and replace it with the new one. Rescrew the lithium battery compartment back on and close the AAA battery compartment. Turn on your calculator and see if that works. I hope this solution solves this.

No. The calculator runs on the four AAA batteries. The lithium battery is solely to retain the contents of the memory while you change the AAA batteries. If you don't care about retaining the memory, you don't need the lithium battery. You do, however, need the AAA batteries to use the calculator.

There can be two causes to this problem. One, the batteries that you put in may be expired. Some batteries have expiration dates on them (i.e. Duracell). If the year on it has expired or is coming near to expiring, you may have to put newer batteries in there that are longer lasting in years. Even if the expiration year is far-off, you still may need to put newer batteries in the bay. Two, your hypothesis of changing the lithium battery are correct. I read in the manual that you should change it every 3 or 4 years. The lithium battery is the back-up battery and it is like a memory card for you calculator. Whenever you put a new fresh set of batteries in the bay, the lithium battery saves your information while you are inserting the batteries in the bay. When you turn on the calculator again, it saves your functions that you've had in there. Hope this clears up your confusion! Reply back if you are still seeing the message.

The TI-30XA uses two A-76 lithium batteries or equivalents.

Having received no response in over five months, I assume my suggestion to reset the calculator solved the problem.

The TI-30Xa uses two A-76 lithium batteries. Comparable battery model numbers include: Duracell® D357 and Eveready® 357

The button cell backup battery keeps the memory electrically refreshed when the calculator is turned OFF. The necessary power for regular use is supplied by the 4 AAA batteries (main power). That nothing happened when you put in a fresh set of (expensive) lithium batteries may be due to the screen being too dim to see anything.

If the calculator displays RAM CLEARED each time it is turned on, it may be due to a depleted backup battery. The battery model number is CR1616 or CR1620. On my TI84PLUS the backup battery is of type 303 (Sony) or SR44SW (Maxell).

The calculator can work with just the AAA batteries. But, without the backup battery, you'll lose all the contents of memory when the AAAs die. The backup battery is intended to keep the contents refreshed while you replace the AAAs.

If you open the battery case and then open the lithium battery case (with a screw driver), there is a "reset" hole inside the lithium battery case area. Use a small screwdriver or something that will reach inside the reset hole and press. Good luck!

If one of these solutions doesnt work you will most likely need to purchase a new calculator.

Batteries:
Make sure to replace the "battery backup" too the little lithium ion battery

Try Adjusting contrast:
Hold down "[2nd]" key press up or down arrow repeatedly to lighten or darken contrast.

First attempt reseting:
Step 1: Remove all the batteries
Step 2: Hold "Clear" key down
Step 3: Still holding "Clear" key reinstall batteries
Step 4: Still holding "Clear" key press "On" key until home screen is displayed.

Second shot reseting:
remove all batteries including lithium ion (backup battery), wait 3 hours and reinstall batteries.

Third Shot reseting:
Step 1: Remove a battery
Step 2: Hold down "DEL" key reinstall battery
Step 3: Possible msg pops up saying "Waiting ... Please install software" IGNORE msg and take out battery again
Step 4: Reinstall battery do not hold down "DEL" key

reseting will cause the handheld to loose all of its stored memory.

Hope that helps!