Remote Control Batteries Lasting a Day

[Chet T16]

Hi All,

I've a remote control from a NowTV/Roku that is using up its 2xAAA batteries after a day. Other than that its working fine. I've taken it apart and there was some slight signs of water damage which i've cleaned up.

Measuring between the battery terminals gives me a resistance of ~120 ohms so that explains the battery drain.

I'm unsure how to approach fault finding now, if it was a direct short i'd try getting some current through it and see what heats but it'll take a while to heat as it is!

Any suggestions?

[Psi]

Check with your phone camera on the IR output end to see if its constantly sending some IR data indicating that it thinks a button is being held down.

Ya can't prove a negative but its worth checking (some phone cams show IR better than others, maybe check your phone with another IR remote to see)

[Haenk]

Googling reveals that battery eating is a known problem on these.

[Chet T16]

It's a known issue that they'll run down in about 2 weeks but this is within a day. And another remote I have doesn't have the same resistance between the terminals

[BrokenYugo]

There's generally almost nothing in these but the button array and a blob chip, maybe a decoupling capacitor, and a ceramic resonator with loading caps for the clock generator. If cleaning doesn't fix it and the decoupling capacitor across the power supply hasn't gone leaky there isn't much more you can do.

[Chet T16]

Theres actually no blobs in here, theres an MSP430 and OZMO2000 radio IC amongst others

[floobydust]

Post pics of the board.
I had a Sony remote the 100uF electrolytic cap on the main rail was installed backwards, it didn't pop at -3V but did kill batteries.
You might have a shorted MLCC or IR driver etc. look around for the low resistance.