sluggish remote control if you haven't used it for a day or two?

micky · 2022-09-16T05:06:46+00:00

Have any of you noticed that your remote control, for a tv or whatever,doesn't work at first, if you haven't used it for a day or two? I keep thinking the batteries have died, but after a couple minutes itusually works. I try to warm up the batteries by pressing one button or another 10 or20 times and that doesn't seem to work but a fwe minutes later, thingsare fine. One complication: I'm not controlling the TV directly. I'm shining theremote on PowerMid that uses radio waves to communicate with a receiverin my bedroom that uses a thin cable to send infrared to a little beadthat is stuck in front of the IR receiver on the DVDR. But the powermidhas a red light that goes on when I'm shining the remote at it, and thatdoes go on. Still, I don't think that is the cause of the delay.

sluggish remote control if you haven't used it for a day or two? Featured

Sep 16, 2022 Last reply: 3 years ago 24 Replies

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three_jeeps 3 years ago

Yes, some mfg remote have better longevity than the others. Taking apart the remote control and cleaning the button sheet and the circuit board with alcohol (rubbing@70% or 90%) will remove the oils. The remote should then operate normally. Don't scrub the circuit board - gently wipe it with a antistatic wipe dipped in alcohol. If really in a pinch, a cotton swab/ball will work. Get used to doing this - I have several remotes that require this cleaning process every 1-3 years, depending on the remote. At some point in the life of the remote, the conductive coating on the silicon pad keys will erode away and that key function will no longer work. The contact material can be reapplied but since making a contact is a mechanical function, the material will erode again. Good luck J

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three_jeeps 3 years ago

I have not seen this happen to kitchen utensils. I have seen it happen to car radio head units, car climate control centers, and hand tools. I don't know of anyway to stop the process or clean up the mess.

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micky 3 years ago

Yes indeed. Thanks Charlie+ I put it in my Amazon shopping cart for next time I order things, although it's about $9 or 10 there and $5 or 6 other places with shipping. I've found other places to be reliable, although harder to r eturn, but I almost never return anything and I don't know why I'd return this, so I'm asking myself, Why do I even consider buying from Amazon.

I had a long term plan to compare the 3-digit device codes that come in various instruction to see if at least they are the same. But I'll never get around to do doing the compare.

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