How To Repair A Remote

Download Article

Download Article

No matter how adept your remote is, it will get dirty and vesture out from frequent utilise. Even if some of the keys have stopped working or have to exist pushed really hard, they can be stock-still. The most mutual problem has to do with the keypad's conductivity with the circuit board. Open the remote, make clean it out, and use a new coat of conductive pigment to become the keys working again. If you're looking for a quicker gear up, utilize foil in place of the paint. The electrical contacts in the battery bedroom likewise wear out, then scrub them clean if they look corroded. With the right treatment, you lot tin make an old remote last for years.

1. 1

   Snap a picture of the button configuration earlier opening the remote. It's best to do this before opening the remote. Some of the buttons may come flight out when you open it. Utilise your phone or draw a diagram if yous don't accept a user manual with 1 in it. Also, annotation and document the position of whatsoever screws on the remote.^[i]

   • The solution used to fix on the remote takes some time to dry. Forgetting the push button positioning is very like shooting fish in a barrel when yous're forced to await earlier putting it back together. Fortunately, you will take a handy picture to brand it easier!
   • Putting back the screws can also exist disruptive, and then make sure you have pictures of all of them and know where they belong.

2. 2

   Take the batteries out of the remote control. Undo the embrace on the back of your controller to pull out the batteries. Removing the batteries will deactivate the controller. Information technology's always a good idea to deactivate the controller this way before applying any sort of fluid to the electrical components inside of information technology.^[2]

   • Depending on the remote, you may demand to remove the batteries to open the casing anyway.

   Advertisement

3. 3

   Notice and remove any screws keeping the remote together. All remotes are unlike, so taking them apart isn't always a straightforward process. Most of them have a couple of screws in the back. Utilise a mini Phillips screwdriver to turn the screws counterclockwise until you're able to remove them. If y'all don't run across any screws on the back, bank check the battery compartment and as well look underneath any stickers or sliding covers.^[3]

   • Some remotes may not have any visible screws. These types of removes normally just need to be pried open up with a tedious blade.
   • Exist cautious when removing the screws. If the screwdriver slips, information technology could scratch upwards your remote.

4. 4

   Open the remote with a butter pocketknife or some other tiresome tool. Wait for a crack running along the side or edge of the remote. About remotes consist of 2 plastic halves. By separating the halves, you can access the internal electronics. Wedge the pocketknife into the crack, pry up the comprehend, and use your hands to pop it off.^[four]

   • Handle the remote advisedly to avoid scratching it. Never attempt to open it with anything sharp.

Advertisement

1. 1

   Purchase a keypad repair kit that tin can be used to fix the remote. A keypad repair kit comes with several brushes and a bottle of conductive paint. Plan on getting one that includes a cleaning fluid also, such equally rubbing booze or acetone, so you have everything y'all need for the repair. Getting a repair kit is well worth the price, specially if you're trying to ready an expensive remote or one that is no longer manufactured. A typical repair kit costs between $twenty and $thirty, although you may detect smaller kits for less.

   • Repair kits are available online and at some electronics stores.
   • These repair kits work for other devices, including garage door openers, calculators, and even keyboards.

2. ii

   Launder the rubber buttons off with soap and water. Remotes either have individual buttons or a sheet of plastic with all the buttons attached. Remove the individual buttons or the entire sheet and accept it to your sink. Fill a bowl with warm h2o, then mix in at least i US tbsp (fifteen mL) of a liquid dish detergent. Soak the buttons and scrub them clean with a soft brush.^[5]

   • Use one of the brushes in your kit or go an sometime toothbrush. Rub away any noticeable debris, but spend extra time scrubbing whatever buttons that stick when you press them.

3. 3

   Rinse the buttons and plastic case off under running water. Get some warm h2o running in your sink. Movement all of the buttons there. The parts of the plastic case, as long as they don't comprise any electronic components, are also rubber to launder this way. Make sure you get all of the soap and remaining droppings before allowing the components to dry.^[6]

   • Exam the buttons. If they stick or experience glutinous, and so spend more than fourth dimension scrubbing them. Look closely for any debris that could cause them to stop performance.

4. 4

   Set the buttons in a spot with good air circulation to dry. Spread out a towel on your countertop, for instance, and put the buttons and case parts there. Keep them in a relatively secure identify out of direct sunlight. Decrease the drying time by keeping them out in the open up.^[7]

   • Brand certain the remote control components are out of the way so they don't end up getting knocked over and lost.
   • The parts have to exist completely dry before going back into the remote or else the moisture could impairment the circuitry.

5. 5

   Wipe the circuit board with rubbing alcohol. The all-time solution to use on the electrical components is rubbing booze. Dip a cotton wool brawl in rubbing alcohol to dampen it, then wipe away any debris yous see inside the remote. Make sure the cotton ball isn't dripping, or else you could apply more liquid than y'all intend.^[eight]

   • The electric parts are delicate, so apply rubbing alcohol sparingly past using something soft, such as a cotton wool brawl.

6. vi

   Apply conductive paint to the keypad contacts. The contacts are underneath each push button and rest against the remote'due south circuit board. Most kits include a small-scale paper match or brush you tin can utilise to spread the pigment. Dip the lucifer in the paint, and then apply a sparse coat of it to the bottom of each contact. Make sure the condom contacts are all well-coated.^[9]

   • Check the repair kit instructions before opening the included jar of paint. Y'all may need to prepare or mix information technology in a certain way in order to use it.

7. vii

   Allow the remote dry out for upward to 72 hours. The conductive paint dries in virtually 24 hours, only it doesn't completely cure until 72 hours have passed. To ensure the repair is successful, look the full 72 hours if you are able to spare the fourth dimension. In the meantime, keep the keypad on the towel you set out when letting it dry earlier.^[10]

   • Leave the keypad with the contacts confront up so the paint doesn't rub off on the towel.

8. 8

   Put the remote dorsum together and test information technology. After having to await for 3 days, y'all may have forgotten how all the pieces fit together. Information technology's not a problem, since you took a picture of the remote earlier. Refer to the picture while putting all sliding bars, loose buttons, screws, and other components back where they vest. Replace the batteries when you're done.^[eleven]

   • If the remote notwithstanding doesn't piece of work, it may be fourth dimension to invest in a replacement. Have the old remote to a facility that recycles electronics.

Advertisement

1. 1

   Brand a annotation of the buttons that do non function. The buttons you most usually used are likely to wearable out starting time. This includes the power, volume, and channel buttons. Make up one's mind where these buttons are located earlier and subsequently you open the remote. Write down the locations then you know which ones to fix.

   • Test all of the buttons earlier opening the remote. That style, yous can repair them all at once instead of having to open the remote multiple times.

2. 2

   Clean the prophylactic contacts with rubbing alcohol if they are dirty. Bank check all the buttons, simply pay extra attending to the ones that aren't functioning correctly. When they are new, they have a shiny coating of conductive pigment on them. This paint wears off over time and may besides collect dust or other debris. Dampen a cotton swab in a little bit of rubbing booze, and so wipe away the droppings.^[12]

   • If your remote needs a deeper cleaning, take out the removable components and launder them with soap and h2o. Scrub the electronic components with rubbing alcohol.

3. 3

   Cut pieces of aluminum foil to fit over the contacts. The exact size of the foil isn't besides of import, simply try to cut it and so it's similar to the pads. If you have a hole punch, employ it to create perfect circles that friction match the contacts. Otherwise, utilise a sharp pair of scissors. Y'all can cut the foil into small squares that are about the aforementioned size as the contacts.^[13]

   • If the foil is also big, information technology may go far the mode of the other contacts or fail to fit inside the remote. Yous really can't make the foil too pocket-sized, however.

4. four

   Glue the foil to the non-performance contacts. Try using a contact adhesive, which is a very stiff blazon of safe cement. You lot may besides take success with super gum or craft glue. Instead of squeezing the glue directly onto the contacts, dip the tip of something pocket-sized, like a matchstick, into it. Utilize it to spread a sparse but consistent layer of glue across each contact.^[xiv]

   • While you can squeeze the glue onto the contacts, yous will commonly cease upwards using too much of it. It can atomic number 82 to a mess that is difficult to clean up.
   • If you're having a hard time placing the foil on the contacts, use tweezers or some other tool. Positioning the pocket-size squares past hand can be difficult.

5. v

   Wait at least 30 minutes for the mucilage to dry out. Cheque the manufacturer's instructions for an verbal recommendation. Contact adhesive and other glues yous may use tend to dry out relatively speedily. However, you may wish to leave the remote alone for longer to ensure the glue fully cures. Some super glues can take equally long as 24 hours to cure.

   • Set the remote parts out on a towel with the contacts upwardly in the air. This will assistance the glue dry and also preclude the foil from coming off the contacts.

6. vi

   Reassemble the remote and exam it. Put the keypad back inside the casing. Refer to a picture or diagram of your remote to position any loose parts correctly. Make sure the keypad contacts balance against the circuit board besides. When you're done, put the batteries back in to use the remote.^[15]

   • If the buttons yet aren't working, you may need to replace the remote.

Advertisement

1. 1

   Put on gloves and other safety equipment. Battery acid is very harsh, so don't let any get on your skin. Consider wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt equally well. A prophylactic mask, such as a grit mask, respirator mask, or even a face mask, is a must.^[16]

   • To make cleanup easier, accept some fourth dimension to prepare your work surface. Spread newspaper out under the remote to catch any corrosion.
   • Work in an area with adept ventilation. Turn on ventilation fans or open nearby doors and windows.

2. two

   Spread vinegar or lemon juice on any noticeable acid. Pull the batteries out of the remote and set them aside. If the batteries have begun leaking, you volition see white flakes like rust inside the remote. Clasp a drop of the liquid onto the corroded spots to neutralize them. You can use a cotton swab to help spread the liquid around.^[17]

   • If you don't come across any signs of corrosion, you don't take to worry about neutralizing anything and can focus on cleaning the electrical contacts inside the battery chamber.
   • You can mix in a picayune baking soda to articulate stubborn spots of corrosion.

3. 3

   Scrub away the corrosion using a cotton swab. An old toothbrush can also be helpful for removing the corrosion. Wipe the corrosion off the batteries start, then piece of work on the battery chamber in the remote. When you're done, cheque it over for anything you missed. Sometimes the corrosion is very small and tin be easy to overlook.^[18]

   • Wipe the corrosion off onto a newspaper or sweep it into a garbage handbag. Be careful to avoid spreading it throughout your dwelling house.
   • If you lot need to, use a toothpick or pencil eraser to reach anything yous can't remove with a cotton swab or toothbrush.

4. 4

   Articulate the electrical contacts with 150-grit sandpaper. If the contacts inside of the remote's battery chamber look dirty, clean them. Try scrubbing them with a piece of 150-grit sandpaper. Article of clothing off the corrosion, taking care not to rub the spots that announced make clean. Throw abroad the sandpaper when you lot're done.^[19]

   • Utilize a metal file to clean areas that are tough to reach. Some other good tool to have around is a wire castor, which can also exist used in place of the sandpaper.
   • When you're done, install new batteries and examination the remote. Corroded terminals tin't properly receive power from batteries, so cleaning them tin make the remote work again. If it however doesn't work, you may demand to buy a new one.

Advertisement

Add together New Question

• Question

  What kind of adhesive is an impact agglutinative?

  

  I call up they meant "contact adhesive". Also, apply the foil pieces to the contact points on back of the rubber (silicone) buttons (usually flat blackness dots), Not on the circuit board as was illustrated. Doing as is illustrated will definitely ruin the remote.

• Question

  How do I change the batteries in my DirecTV remote command?

  

  In that location should be a panel on the back of the remote that opens. You can then remove the quondam batteries and replace them.

• Question

  What do I practice if the volume controls on my remote aren't working?

  

  Start by irresolute the batteries in your remote. If that doesn't solve the problem, there may be damaged to the volume keys or circuitry, so I would recommend purchasing a new remote.

• Question

  How can I repair a remote control that got wet?

  

  Attempt filling a mason jar that's big plenty for the remote with white rice and stick the remote in it overnight or twenty-iv hours or until dry. if this doesn't piece of work only buy a new remote.

• Question

  I am missing a contact in the bombardment compartment. How do I repair this?

  

  I would probably look upward what contact I am missing, and so become to the store and buy it, and then try to repair it myself.

• Question

  Can I utilise soap and warm water for all plastic and rubber parts, then lighter fuel for the circuit lath connections?

  

  I have used soap and water to clean the safe parts in the remote, and a pencil eraser to clean the metal contacts. I have washed this with several remotes with long lasting success. Be certain to allow the parts dry throughly.

• Question

  How practice I detect information on the wiring of my remote command?

  

  Brett Gilbert

  Top Answerer

  Check the owner's manual to encounter if it's in there. If it isn't, attempt searching online co-ordinate to the manufacturer and model you have. Generally, remotes are all pretty unproblematic and wired similarly, so you lot tin figure it out equally you go along, if necessary.

• Question

  What tin I do if the remote audio has never worked?

  

  Brett Gilbert

  Meridian Answerer

  Make sure it's compatible with your device first. If it's new, information technology might be defective. Contact the store and manufacturer for recommendations. If it's sometime, cleaning information technology and using conductive paint may help.

• Question

  How do I repair a cracked excursion board on a remote control?

  

  Brett Gilbert

  Height Answerer

  Try using a soldering atomic number 26 to solder it back together. You may need to deal with a lot of small connectors, and so it can be a frustrating experience. Employ copper solder, for instance, to make full in cracked copper connectors.

• Question

  How to go a replacement genie control?

  

  Search online places like Google, Amazon, Ebay, etc. Google often shows sellers in different States-- cheque those sellers' websites because they ofttimes carry older, or out of stock, items.

Evidence more answers

Enquire a Question

200 characters left

Include your email accost to become a bulletin when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Video

• Check your remote's IR light by pointing information technology at a telephone or video photographic camera. If the LED doesn't light up when you press a button, then you most likely need to get a new remote.

• If the coating on the keypad contacts is thick or dirty, it can flake off and crusade the remote to fail. You will have to make clean the solution off the circuit board and reapply information technology to fix the remote.

• Remotes clothing downwards over time, then sometimes your repair attempts won't exist successful. Fortunately, remotes are relatively cheap, but make sure you go ane that is compatible with your device

• Be enlightened of loose objects inside of your remote command. Some remote controls are held together with slide confined or screws, and these can be piece of cake to lose when you pry open up the casing.

Thank you for submitting a tip for review!

Advertisement

• Bombardment acid is very toxic, so wear safety protection when dealing with corrosion. Keep in listen that your expanse may have special disposal rules for corroded batteries, so be certain to check local regulations.

Advertisement

Things You'll Demand

• Photographic camera or owner's manual
• Mini Phillips screwdriver
• Butter knife

• Bucket
• Liquid dish soap
• Water
• Towel
• Cotton fiber balls or swabs
• Rubbing booze
• Conductive paint

• Scissors or hole dial
• Aluminum foil
• Cotton swab
• Rubbing booze
• Contact adhesive

• Newspaper
• Rubber gloves
• Dust mask
• Lemon juice or vinegar
• Cotton fiber swab
• 150-grit sandpaper, metal file, or wire brush
• Trash bags

Nearly This Article

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 610,568 times.

Is this article upward to date?

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Repair-a-Remote-Control

Share this post