Repair a Remote Control

Don't put up with your faulty buttons on your remote control anymore! If some of the keys on your remote have stopped working or you have to push really hard to get them to work, this is the solution for you! The biggest problem with the remote control is the keypad's conductivity with the circuit board.

Steps

Using a keypad repair kit

  1. Purchase the keypad repair kit, which is well worth the money, especially if the remote is a really expensive remote control, or no longer manufactured. The keypad repair kit usually costs in the $20 to $30 range. This kit comes with a solution in it that is needed to coat the keypad with.
  2. Remove any batteries out of your remote control.
  3. Check over the remote control and remove any screws keeping the remote together. Make sure you check in the battery department and under any stickers or sliding covers.
  4. Open the remote control by using a dull knife or something similar. You may have to make your way into the crack on the side/edge of the remote, while using your hands to pop it open.
  5. Once you have it open, make a note of any switches or loose pieces so you will know where they go when you put the remote back together. You can take a digital photograph of the open remote at this point so you have a picture to refer back to later when assembling the remote.
  6. Clean the circuit board and keypad to remove any dirt and oil. Check, after cleaning, if the remote is working again; dirt could be the only problem. An old toothbrush and some 409 works well to clean the keypad and case. The best cleaning solution for the circuit board is some rubbing alcohol. Just rub the circuit board down with a cotton ball and let everything dry out.
  7. Dip a cotton swab (provided with keypad repair kit) in some alcohol or acetone (acetone is provided with key-pad-repair kit) and clean all the black contacts the meets with the circuit board on the backside of the rubber keypad.
  8. Apply the conductive paint (included with keypad repair kit) to the keypads contacts. The best way to do this is with a paper match. (included with keypad repair kit) After dipping the match in the paint, apply a thin coat to each of the rubber contacts on the backside of the rubber keypad.
  9. Let the remote dry for a few hours. 24 hrs dry-time is best.
  10. Carefully place the remote back together remembering to put all sliding bars and loose objects back where they came from.
  11. Place batteries back in and you have a remote that works like new again.
  12. If it doesn't work, perhaps it's best to consider buying a new one & dumping this one into the recycle bin.

Using kitchen foil

  1. Make a note of the button(s) that do not function.
  2. Open remote as outlined in the method above.
  3. Check the panel for contamination. Look especially at the non-functioning button(s). If the panel is clean, probably the rubber button contact has lost its conductivity.
  4. Using kitchen foil, cut pieces that will fit on top of the rubber button contact.
  5. Using impact adhesive, glue the foil pieces to the rubber buttons' contact(s).
  6. Reassemble, and test.



Tips

  • Keep up with any loose objects that came out of the remote, including slide bars and screws.
  • Be sure the IR-led is working. Use a mobile phone or video camera and point the remote at your camera. Watch through the camera while pressing any key on the remote. If the IR-led is OK it should flash up. Check other keys as well. If a key is faulty the IR-led won't flash up.
  • If the coating is too thick on contacts or board is not cleaned well, the coating can flake off and cause the remote to not work until you re-clean the solution off the circuit board.
  • Make sure the remote is cleaned well before applying the paint solution to your keypad.

Warnings

  • Don't cut yourself with the dull knife.

Things You'll Need

  • Broken remote control
  • Keypad repair kit (link below)
  • Dull knife, or something that will be used to open the remote with
  • Screwdriver
  • All-purpose cleaner, ex. 409
  • Cloth or drying rag
  • Old toothbrush, used to clean the inside of the remote
  • Cotton swabs (included with keypad repair kit)
  • Cleaning solution (acetone is included with keypad repair kit)
  • Paper match sticks to apply paint (included with keypad repair kit)
  • Conductive paint to coat keypad with (included with keypad repair kit)
  • A video camera to check the IR-led

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Sources and Citations

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