# Can I replace the switches on a remote control with better ones? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 12, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-replace-the-switches-on-a-remote-control-with-better-ones/571162 "2011-02-12T21:44:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-replace-the-switches-on-a-remote-control-with-better-ones/571162/1 "2011-02-12T21:44:26Z")
I’m trying to build a remote controlled camera system, and the cameras I’m using are tiny, so I don’t need a large pan/tilt head. These [tiny cheap heads](http://cgi.ebay.com/Tripod-Mt-Motorized-Pan-Tilt-Head-Security-Camera-/400194706682?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d2d769cfa) are going to be enough for my purposes. The problem is the craptacular remote with tiny rubber membrane switches. A tiny, easily losable remote is the weakest point of the system. Does anyone have a circuit that I can build that will allow me to replace the membrane switches with larger mechanical switches, so I can build a proper control panel that will last? ---
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-replace-the-switches-on-a-remote-control-with-better-ones/571162/2 "2011-02-12T21:51:44Z")
Just build the same circuit with better switches, lots of soldering will be involved. ---
**Author:** ![MobiusStripes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@MobiusStripes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MobiusStripes)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-replace-the-switches-on-a-remote-control-with-better-ones/571162/3 "2011-02-12T21:52:28Z")
Depending on your skills you can probably use something like an Arduino (programmable micro processor) to build one. You can probably the rotaty head too 🙂 I know they have kits for remote controls and the like (IR or radio sigal) ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-replace-the-switches-on-a-remote-control-with-better-ones/571162/4 "2011-02-12T22:53:49Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > Just build the same circuit with better switches, lots of soldering will be involved. Huh? Remote controls have a lot of specialized circuits in them. I’m wanting to modify an existing remote. The remote has a circuit board with pairs of copper pads that the rubber material touches, but I always thought these were capacitive switches, not a straight closed circuit. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-replace-the-switches-on-a-remote-control-with-better-ones/571162/5 "2011-02-12T23:31:24Z")
Is this an IR remote? If so, just buy a learning remote control with big buttons, and teach it. Also, there are sometimes third-party remotes available (I bought one from my Nikon on ebay for a few dollars). ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-replace-the-switches-on-a-remote-control-with-better-ones/571162/6 "2011-02-12T23:59:29Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Is this an IR remote? No, it’s an RF one. > [@](#): > > If so, just buy a learning remote control with big buttons, and teach it. I really don’t want to use **any** existing remote control. I want to have full-sized real switches - think the same quality as the ones used for stand-up video games. The remote it comes with has a diamond shape of four rubbery buttons, and I’d like to replace that with a game joystick. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-replace-the-switches-on-a-remote-control-with-better-ones/571162/7 "2011-02-13T00:08:05Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Huh? Remote controls have a lot of specialized circuits in them. I’m wanting to modify an existing remote. The remote has a circuit board with pairs of copper pads that the rubber material touches, but I always thought these were capacitive switches, not a straight closed circuit. As far as I know, the rubber material is conductive (carbon impregnated), and serves to close the circuit. You might stick a resistor in there (1k or so) in case the circuit depends on the resistance of the pad, but besides that, a simple switch or button should do. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-replace-the-switches-on-a-remote-control-with-better-ones/571162/8 "2011-02-13T00:26:16Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > As far as I know, the rubber material is conductive (carbon impregnated), and serves to close the circuit. You might stick a resistor in there (1k or so) in case the circuit depends on the resistance of the pad, but besides that, a simple switch or button should do. Ah, OK! I had always heard that they were capacitive switches. I’ll open a spare remote and do the test. Thanks!