Fixing a remote control

[alchemysa]

Heres a little repair trick I just discovered. If you have a TV remote control that has dead or hard to operate buttons its probably because the back of the button is not making electrical contact with the printed circuit board.

My fix was to open up the remote and smear graphite (crushed pencil lead) on the circuit board and the back of the buttons after giving both a clean with some meths. Not owning a morter and pestle, I simply crushed about an inch of pencil lead in an egg cup with the handle of a knife. A minute of pounding makes a nice fine powder. I don't know if theres any problems with this fix but for now the remote is functioning easily and perfectly.

Alternatively theres some $20 paint you can buy to do the same thing, or you can glue little dots of aluminium foil to the back of the buttons but this fix was very simple and virtually free.

 

[bamatoolmaker]

I am interested in the paint you mentioned.I have an old vertical keyboard that needs help.

 

[alchemysa]

I am interested in the paint you mentioned.I have an old vertical keyboard that needs help.

Google keypad repair kit and you'll find stuff like this..
Repair Your Remote Control with a Keypad Repair Kit - Remote Controls Inc.

I don't know anything about it. Its just something I saw while looking for ideas on how to fix my remote control.

 

[tallyho8]

I just ordered some to fix a couple of broken remotes a couple of weeks ago. All the buttons worked perfectly after following their simple instructions. One of my remotes has another problem also because even though all the buttons work now, it has to be within 3 feet of the tv for any of them to work even with new batteries.

 

[Volfandt]

Usually, I just take the remote apart, give both the circuit board and membrane a good shower/bath of contact cleaner.
I then just wipe the circuit board down with a good paper towell.
For the membrane, I lay another piece of paper towell down on a flat surface then drag the membrane contacts over the towell with gentle pressure on each digit. The more troublesome digits get several applications.
The trail of black residue left on the paper towel is what was insulating the contacs from the circuit board.
Be careful not to apply too much pressure on the membrane as this could tear it.

For the remotes that have a short working distance, make sure the I/R LED is protruding through the openning in the remote case and that it's clean as well.

 

[GaryM]

If you have a digital camera with an LCD that shows a "live view", you can hold the remote in front of the camera lens while watching the camera's display. The LCD will show the LED on the remote lighting up.

The LEDs operate in the infrared range and virtually all digital cameras have enough sensitivity to let you see if the remote is actually sending a signal.

 

[alchemysa]

Usually, I just take the remote apart, give both the circuit board and membrane a good shower/bath of contact cleaner.
I then just wipe the circuit board down with a good paper towell.
For the membrane, I lay another piece of paper towell down on a flat surface then drag the membrane contacts over the towell with gentle pressure on each digit. The more troublesome digits get several applications.
The trail of black residue left on the paper towel is what was insulating the contacs from the circuit board.
Be careful not to apply too much pressure on the membrane as this could tear it.

For the remotes that have a short working distance, make sure the I/R LED is protruding through the openning in the remote case and that it's clean as well.

Cleaning the residue off the circuit board and the rubber membrane works for a while but eventually it becomes counter-productive as you will wipe the conductive surface off the rubber. Then no amount of cleaning helps. You have to restore the conductive surface to the membrane - hence graphite, alfoil or conductive paint.

 

[alchemysa]

I just ordered some to fix a couple of broken remotes a couple of weeks ago. All the buttons worked perfectly after following their simple instructions. One of my remotes has another problem also because even though all the buttons work now, it has to be within 3 feet of the tv for any of them to work even with new batteries.

Flat batteries? The transmitter LED thingy is bent or obstructed? The batteries are making poor contact at each end where they contact those spring things? I've noticed this last point is particularly a problem lately as some batteries seem to have almost no protruding knob at the positive end.

 

[Volfandt]

Cleaning the residue off the circuit board and the rubber membrane works for a while but eventually it becomes counter-productive as you will wipe the conductive surface off the rubber. Then no amount of cleaning helps. You have to restore the conductive surface to the membrane - hence graphite, alfoil or conductive paint.

Sounds logical but, so far and in the cases where I've effected the cleaning I pointed out, I've yet to need to restore the contacts. I must be living right....

 

[Tig]

I've been using those universal remotes. $5 at the local surplus store. I have been able to consolidate 5 remotes into one. I also picked up a jumbo sized remote that I can use in poor light without needing glasses. It's about the size of a shoe box lid and it never gets lost.