# Is my remote control going to blow up?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-remote-control-going-to-blow-up/563735>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 11, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-remote-control-going-to-blow-up/563735 "2010-12-11T01:19:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-remote-control-going-to-blow-up/563735/1 "2010-12-11T01:19:44Z")

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It just popped. Audibly. Twice in about 10 minutes.

At first I didn’t know what happened - it was sitting on my thigh and I heard and felt a little pop. Then about 10 minutes later, the same thing happened to my [Harmony 360](http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harmony-Xbox-360-Remote/dp/B000CCXCYC). It still works. There are no scorch marks or anything on the battery contacts, but I’m not about to open it up further.

It’s been pretty static-y around the house - any chance that could have caused it? I had two dogs wrestling on the couch next to me. I really don’t want to replace my baby.

Edit: What’s my worst case scenario? I don’t want to start a fire or anything…

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**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-remote-control-going-to-blow-up/563735/2 "2010-12-11T02:21:28Z")

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Is it possible that the battery door wasn’t closed properly and it snapped into place?

I had this happen years ago with a Gameboy. It scared the hell out of me and I thought one of the batteries was exploding. Took me a while to duplicate what happened and figure out how it had happened.

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**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-remote-control-going-to-blow-up/563735/3 "2010-12-11T02:25:26Z")

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I hope so, but twice? I’m replacing the batteries - let’s see how it goes. These occasionally pop up on eBay for really cheap, but not before Christmas. And they’re $75 on Amazon, used.

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**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-remote-control-going-to-blow-up/563735/4 "2010-12-11T02:45:07Z")

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I would guess it could be the batteries themselves, especially if they are old, and double-especially if they are the super-cheap Chinese off-brand batteries that often come with remote controls. They can rupture and leak their acid-y goodness all over the inside of your remote. Good thing you heard it happen, and good call on replacing them!