Every day, every person uses the TV remote control several times, and if it stops working, then the desire immediately arises to find out the problem, so that it can be fixed later and as quickly as possible. In this article, we will look at the main reasons why the TV remote control does not work and what can be done.
Causes of remote control malfunction
If the remote control does not change channels, this may mean the following:
- The batteries are dead. This can be determined by the fact that the remote control does not work well at first, and then does not respond at all to your efforts.
- The infrared signal sensor on the TV has broken down. If it is not closed and the remote control is working, then you should take another remote control (necessarily of the same brand) and check whether your TV turns on or does not turn on.
- The infrared transmitter has failed. You can check this by pointing your camera or phone lens at the red indicator light. If, when you press the buttons, you see the LED blinking, then everything is in order.
- The sending frequency is off. You can talk about this problem if the remote control itself is working, other TVs respond to it, but yours does not. This can only be fixed by remote control repair specialists.
- The conductive rubber has deteriorated. This can be determined if only selected buttons on the remote control do not work. This happens due to their excessive use or getting oil from the skin of the hands. If buying a new remote control device is problematic, you can replace them.
It is worth noting that the remote control is a fairly “delicate” device, so if you drop it often or fill it with any liquid, it will fail very quickly.
The solution for people whose original TV remotes are difficult to buy is to purchase a universal device that can work with various equipment and has a better build quality.
Over time, the buttons on remote controls/gamepads stop working normally, but this does not mean that they have worn out and need to be changed.
The article is aimed at beginners, because every experienced brainiac has probably known this for a long time.
I remember an incident four years ago. I’m driving home after school, and next to me there’s a guy about 40-50 years old standing with a remote control for a Chinese TV. I glanced at him curiously. As if to justify himself, he began to say that the buttons began to work poorly, so he was going to look for a new one. On the remote control there was a worn, barely noticeable inscription of some incomprehensible and new to me company. He asked if I knew where he could find the same one, but I suggested that he just clean the contacts with an eraser.
This is what we will do now!
We unscrew the screws and use a screwdriver to help separate the two parts of the remote control. Every self-respecting remote control has special places where disassembly begins)). Be careful not to injure him. 
There is some liquid visible on the buttons. This is what caused the malfunction.
We clean everything with cotton wool and alcohol, and, if necessary, wipe the board with a regular office grater.
OK it's all over Now! By the way, I checked its operation directly on the camera))
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SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS!If at one point the buttons on the television remote control stop being pressed, or the buttons are pressed, but the TV does not respond to pressing, it’s time to fix the remote control. Possible causes of failure: You accidentally flooded the housing with water or dropped the device on the floor. If we already told readers about how to do it, then this repair technology will clearly not be difficult for novice electricians. Next, we will tell you why the TV remote control does not work and how to repair it yourself!
Sequencing
If the buttons on the TV remote control do not work, first, no matter how trivial it may sound, check the batteries by replacing them with new ones. The situation has not changed? Try turning on the camera on your mobile phone, pointing it at the LED on the front and seeing if it blinks when you press the buttons. The fact is that a person cannot see infrared radiation, but the camera records it, as can be seen in the photo.
Is the diode not blinking? This means that in order to repair the TV remote control with your own hands, you need to disassemble it and check the condition inside. First, pull out the batteries and check to see if there are any screws under them that hold the case together, then visually inspect the back cover for screws. After unscrewing all the fastening parts, insert a straight screwdriver at the junction of the two parts of the case and separate them, as shown in the photo below.
Some models of TV remotes are fastened with conventional latches, i.e. without screws. To disassemble such a case, simply separate the connecting parts with a straight screwdriver. This must be done carefully so as not to damage or scratch the plastic!
So, the case has been disassembled, now you need to carefully inspect all the parts: the board, the button pads, spring contacts for the batteries, the emitting diode, the conductive tracks and ceramic quartz.
Let's start with the spring contacts for the batteries. Check to see if the contact is unsoldered from the microcircuit; if everything is in order, move on. No - take a soldering iron and carefully solder it. By the way, you can if you don’t have a normal tool at hand.
Also look at the condition of the spring itself, which is in contact with the battery; it may be very dirty and rusty. If so, to repair the TV remote control with your own hands, you need to clean it with sandpaper.
The next possible reason is contamination of the button contacts with oily dirt. The appearance of this dirt is caused by using the device for a long time, as a result of which condensation of fat from the skin of the hands settles on the contact pads. If these pads are rubber, you need to wipe them well yourself with a swab soaked in alcohol or wet wipes. Also wipe the board, because Perhaps dirt closes the contacts, as a result of which the buttons on the TV remote control do not work.
If the contacts are coated with graphite, the problem may be that this coating has worn off over time. Repairing the TV remote control in this case is quite simple - you need to take foil from a chocolate bar, cut it into small squares and stick the paper side to the contacts.
By the way, if the buttons on the TV remote control are difficult to press, you need to press hard on them, the cause of the malfunction is the same and you can repair the device by cleaning the contacts or restoring them.
If only some of the buttons do not work, and then the most necessary ones - turning on the TV, switching the volume or channels, then most likely the graphite coating on them has worn out!
A possible cause of failure may also be a malfunction of the ceramic quartz. If the remote control does not work after a fall, then you can be 95% sure that this element of the circuit has broken. It’s quite easy to determine this yourself - shake the board, and if you hear a rustling sound from the quartz, it means it’s not functioning. Repair in this case comes down to replacing the quartz.
If you can turn off/on the TV, change programs or sound only from a close distance, either dead batteries or a diode are to blame. In the latter case, you can check the serviceability of the emitting diode at home by visually inspecting the soldering, as well as checking through the phone camera. If the diode is really bad, it will also have to be replaced.
Well, the last malfunction is damage to the contact tracks. If you see cracks on the microcircuit, then repair will be inappropriate, and it is best to simply buy a new remote control device.
You can clearly see how to repair some of the faults yourself in the video examples below:
Changing buttons on the Samsung remote control
How to fix tracks on a board?
Properly Cleaning Contact Pads
How to stick pieces of foil onto rubber contacts?
What else is important to know?
If the buttons on the TV remote control do not work, you can also repair them yourself by purchasing a repair kit with ready-made patches and glue. Of course, it costs a lot, but one such kit is enough to repair 3-4 devices.
You can also, instead of gluing the patches, simply drip a special glue called “kontaktol” onto the grease-free rubber contacts of the buttons. The only problem is that it is quite expensive, but a novice electrician will still need this glue at home to repair other electrical appliances.
Finally, I would like to note that if your TV remote control jams or does not work due to dirty buttons, after thorough cleaning, we recommend wrapping the device in a bag (even special ones are sold) or in thin film. In this case, fat will not get onto the chip and contact pads.
That's all I wanted to tell you about why the TV remote control doesn't work and how to repair it yourself at home! We hope that the instructions with photos and video examples were useful for you!
As long as it regularly switches channels, and the user enjoys his existence, life, one might say, is wonderful. But the button is pressed again and again, and the channel still does not switch. Trouble has come - open the gate. Soon there will be more such buttons. We will tell you what to do in this case further.
If the remote control does not perform its functions, this does not mean that it is faulty. The probability of failure of its filling under existing operating modes is close to zero if its elements comply with the specifications. Therefore, usually a malfunction of the remote control is simply a fact that confirms the common expression: electrical engineering is the science of contacts. And the first thing to check is the battery terminals. Oddly enough, this is often where the reason lies. Control pulses consume a certain amount of current.
But this is often enough to “drop” the voltage on the microcircuits when the contacts are oxidized. As a result, they are unable to generate the correct signal, and switching does not occur on the TV. The phenomenon in question is usually observed when the power supply elements are partially discharged. Therefore, if the remote control does not switch when you press the button, first of all open the cover of the battery compartment. They can either be taken out and put back in again, or, without taking them out, they can be rocked and rotated back and forth around their axis.
The oxide film is destroyed and contact is restored. If after the operation the remote control works normally, then the goal has been achieved. But this case is like a bell warning about the need to quickly replace the batteries. Please note that if there are two or more batteries in the remote control, they discharge differently. For a more equal discharge, it is recommended to periodically swap them. And when replacing, it is best to measure the short circuit current with a tester and leave a more powerful battery, using it together with a new one.
We disassemble the remote control - the check continues
So, the batteries have been tested, checked, and they are definitely working properly. But the remote control still doesn't switch. In this case, check the buttons and LED. In some remote controls it is open. But there are models in which the LED is located behind dark glass. In any case, it will not be possible to control its operation with the naked eye. It emits pulses of light in the infrared range, which the human eye cannot see. But video cameras, perceiving them, perform optical conversion. Therefore, using them you can see the operation of the remote control LED and thereby check it.
In theory, the dark glass with which the LED can be covered should not interfere with recording its flashes. But in their absence, as they say, for the purity of the experiment, it is better to check directly. To do this, as well as to check the buttons, the remote control must be disassembled. The design of the remote controls is varied. Therefore, you must carefully inspect the remote control being repaired before opening it. For manufacturability, the design is usually made entirely with latches.
But some models may have hardware. They are usually hidden for aesthetic reasons and are accessible in the battery compartment. If, after taking them out and inspecting the remote control, you did not find the screw heads, it means that the fastening is made only with latches. In this case, the two parts of the remote control housing must be separated. To do this, the seam is probed with the sharp tip of a knife blade. They insert it and, applying a slight twisting force, try to push both parts apart.
How to restore buttons
If this is done near the latch, both parts are separated. With this sequential action along the seam, the remote control opens. Inside there is a board, which is covered with rubber buttons. We leave the LED for last, since to check it you will have to unsolder at least one of its legs. And before that, let's check the buttons. A LED malfunction can only be predicted if the remote control is completely inoperative. If at least one button works, it means the LED is operational, and the problem is again in the contacts.
The remote controls are structurally simple. There are tracks on the printed circuit board. The contact is created by a conductive layer applied to the surface of the rubber button. When pressed, this layer falls on two adjacent tracks, closing them. As the number of clicks increases, the layer becomes thinner and loses the necessary properties. Plus, dirt appears on the surface of the paths. Especially if the TV is located in the kitchen.
After 5–10 years of proper operation, the failure of the remote control may be due to dirty contacts. To clean, you will need either special wet wipes for caring for office equipment, or a cotton swab and alcohol. We recommend wearing plastic gloves when cleaning the board and buttons. All contacting surfaces are wiped with a moistened swab or wipes. If the remote control has been in use for five years or more, restoration of the buttons is recommended after cleaning it.
Otherwise, you will still need to do this soon. Even when functionality is restored after cleaning. The deterioration of the coating on the buttons cannot be stopped. It is best to immediately apply a new layer when disassembling the remote control for the first time. A little superglue and a piece of foil glued to each button will be a normal replacement for the original. Before the glue has hardened, the foil must be pressed against the surface of the button so that the foil only touches the board when pressed.
Quartz is also damaged
In most cases, the buttons are the reason why the remote control needs to be repaired. But it may also be that after gluing the foil, performance is not restored. This means that the reason may be in the electronic components of the printed circuit board. Damage is usually mechanical due to the fact that the remote control was dropped on the floor. The quartz resonator suffers from this. Irreversible damage may occur inside it.
Usually this can only be determined by monitoring the performance of the remote control using an oscilloscope. But if the remote control was subjected to strong impacts, the quartz inside could fly off. Then, when you shake the remote control, you will hear its movements inside the resonator housing. The only solution is to replace it with a new one. Moreover, replacement again may not help. If the impact was so strong that the resonator was damaged, the board traces could crack. Therefore, we leave this most labor-intensive operation for last and check the LED.
Completion of repairs
Carefully, holding one leg with pliers (so as not to overheat), unsolder it from the board. To check, you need a tester in resistance measurement mode. It is very good if you have a red or other colored LED, so that by its glow you can make sure that the experiment was a success. If the control LED emits light that is visible, then the IR LED will also be visible through a video camera (you can use a smartphone).
If the IR LED is working, the only version left is that there are cracks in the tracks. You won’t be able to see them even with a magnifying glass if a protective coating is applied. Therefore, you will have to use sharp probes that can pierce it. By testing each track in this way, you can find damage. The damaged track found will not short-circuit the probes, which will be visible on the tester's display. You need to remove the protective layer from it and, using a magnifying glass, look for a crack.
At this point on the track, soldering is done with a thin wire. If the remote control still does not work, then you need to arm yourself with an oscilloscope and view the signals that are available in certain places on the board. But this is more likely to be done by specialists. And for an ordinary user it’s easier to buy a new remote control.
Today, almost all electronic devices used in everyday life are equipped with remote controls. TVs are no exception. How else can you change channels without leaving the couch?
The remote control, being an intensively used device, often fails. It either stops functioning altogether, or copes with its responsibilities partially.
What do some of us, the most impatient and comfortable with convenience, do when ? That's right, they are trying to buy a new one as quickly as possible. But if you have the desire and a few tens of minutes of free time, you can try to repair it yourself.
In this article we will talk about why the remote control fails, and also consider ways to resuscitate it at home.
The TV remote control does not work: causes and symptoms of malfunction
The remote control device may lose its functionality either due to some technical problems or due to careless handling. So if yours is broken remote control for tv, before you start disassembling it for subsequent repairs, you should determine for yourself what signs of malfunction it shows. This will make it easier to plan further actions.
Most often, a remote control malfunction is characterized by:
- visible and suspected mechanical damage;
- lack of response when pressing some buttons (other buttons work);
- complete lack of response (all buttons do not work).
Let's consider these signs in the context of possible malfunctions.
Mechanical damage
If TV remote control doesn't work and there are obvious signs of mechanical damage on its body, this may indicate that it was simply dropped on the floor or deliberately tried to render it inoperative. The consequences of such treatment of the device may be:
- lack of contact between the batteries and the electrical terminals of the remote control;
- damage to the transmitting LED;
- violation of the integrity of conductive paths and/or leads of electrical components on the board.
The TV remote control does not work: what to do and where to start
It is best to start diagnostics with the batteries. When a device falls, they are often the cause of its failure. The test itself consists of removing the remote control cover and checking the position of the batteries. If necessary, they must be reinstalled, observing the polarity. Pay attention to how tightly their contacts are in contact with the electrical terminals of the device. If the batteries are loose, you may need to bend the negative terminals (springs).
If after such events remote control for tv earned, close the lid and continue to use it further. If this does not happen, we move on to the next stage of diagnosis.
Battery charge
After removing the cover of the device to check the batteries, do not be too lazy to check their charge level. Although the remote control consumes a minimum of electricity to ensure its operation, the batteries gradually run out.
The test is best done using a conventional voltmeter or multimeter. To do this, you just need to measure the voltage at the contacts of the batteries. It should not be less than 1 V.
If you do not have such devices, check batteries for TV remote control possible by using them in another remote control device, such as a DVD, stereo system, air conditioner, etc.
You can also insert known good batteries into our device. After making sure that they are suitable both in size and in terms of the output voltage, remove them from the other remote control and install them in the one being diagnosed. Did the check show that it was the batteries that failed? Just replace them.
Checking the LED
The transmitting LED plays a major role in the operation of the remote control. It consists of transmitting an infrared signal of a certain frequency to a special TV receiver. First, inspect the LED for damage. If it is broken, the only solution is to replace it. You will have to go to a radio market or a store that specializes in selling radio components, buy the same element and solder it in place of the damaged one.
Does the LED look intact? Check how it works. This is impossible to do with the naked eye, since the human eye does not perceive infrared radiation. One of the modern devices equipped with a camera will help here. It could be a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, etc. Turn on the camera on it and point it at the remote control LED. Now try switching channels while looking at the device screen. With a working diode, you will definitely see light signals when you press the remote control keys. But if there is no reaction, most likely the problem is not with the light element.
Damage inside the device
Mechanical damage may be hidden from your eyes. If The TV remote fell and doesn't work, and something is dangling inside, there is a possibility that he received a closed “injury”, which put him out of action. As a result of a fall, a wire may break off, a lead, for example, of a capacitor may fall off, or a conductive path may crack. Here you will have to completely disassemble the device.
If the board or its elements are damaged, it is better, of course, to entrust them to professionals, but if you have ever held a soldering iron in your hands, you can try to deal with it yourself.
First, let's open the device. You're lucky if your TV remote control housing is held together with screws. In this case, you need to unscrew them and disconnect the parts of the device. If the case is fastened with internal latches, you will have to work a little.
A knife with a thin, dull blade will help you disconnect the parts of the remote control. It must be inserted between the halves and, gently squeezing, disconnect them from each other, passing in a circle. When this is done, disassemble the remote control and carefully inspect the circuit board for damage. For these purposes, use a magnifying glass. Small defects may not be visible to the naked eye. It is also advisable to ensure good lighting of the area where the inspection will be carried out.
Start checking from the terminals that go to the batteries. Next, inspect all the tracks, and then the electrical parts. If you find a break in the electrical circuit of the remote control, restore it by repairing or replacing the damaged part. If damage to the microcircuits is detected, it is better to buy a new remote control than to try to repair it. At least it will be cheaper this way.
When individual buttons do not work
Often the reason is that TV remote control doesn't work, is the condition of the rubber keyboard. The lower part of the buttons is covered with a conductive graphite layer, which, in fact, closes the contacts located on the board. It happens that this layer wears out from constant use, and it also happens that dust, moisture, and foreign objects get between it and the contacts.
Wear usually occurs on the keys we use the most:
- on-off;
- switching channels;
- increasing or decreasing the volume level.
Unidentified oily liquid
Having discovered that The TV remote control doesn't work, and upon disassembling it, you can see a colorless oily liquid on the bottom of the keyboard. Do not rush to blame your relatives if one of them spilled sunflower oil or sweet tea on the device. This liquid is nothing more than oil secreted from the pores of the fingers. During operation of the remote control, it settles on the buttons, as a result of which contact between them and the pads is lost.
This problem can be solved very simply. It is enough to disassemble the remote control, wipe the board and the bottom of the keyboard with alcohol, and the device will work like new. Before starting use after this procedure, do not forget to dry the wiped elements.
Is it possible to restore a worn out graphite layer?
What should I do if the conductive graphite layer on the bottom of the remote control keypad has worn off? It can be restored. with damaged conductive coating involves removing it and creating a new one in its place. But what is it made of?
There are two options here. The first is to buy a special kit for repairing remote controls at a radio parts store. This set includes a tube of silicone glue and several dozen rubber patches (coverings on the lower parts of the buttons) coated with the same graphite. You are required to disassemble the remote control, carefully cut off the old pads, and stick new ones in their place. Such repairs allow you to completely restore the device for a long time.
The second option does not involve any costs at all. Take regular chocolate foil, cut out the required number of pads from it, observing the size, and stick them on top of the worn-out patches. Of course, this budget repair will not ensure trouble-free operation of the remote control for many years, but believe me, it will still serve.
Will film help?
You've probably seen remote control devices wrapped in plastic film. This method was undoubtedly invented by our compatriots in order to protect the remote control from the possible consequences of careless handling. Yes, the film can temporarily protect the device from moisture and dust. But over time, it loses its protective properties due to the same intensive use. Whether it is worth turning the remote control into an incomprehensible and funny object is up to you to decide.
How to extend the life of your TV remote control
To keep your TV remote control working as long as possible, use the following tips:
- Try to handle it carefully, avoiding dropping it on the floor.
- Do not give the remote control to children and protect it from “encroachment” by pets.
- Monitor the status of the LED.
- Don't forget to change batteries on time.
- Do not use the remote control when your hands are dirty or while eating.
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