VCR remote eats batteries?

Factual Questions
1

Lately, the remote control for my VCR has been draining batteries very quickly - I’ve been needing to swap the duracells every few weeks.

Here are the facts about the VCR:

  • I bought it in early 1999.
  • For the most part, I use the VCR to connect a DVD player, Gamecube, and cable box to the TV.
  • For the most part, I use the remote control to turn the VCR on or off, and switch channels associated with the three components listed above.
  • Very little rewinding/fast forwarding (maybe once a week), and even less VCR programming.
  • I’m pretty darned sure there’s nothing holding down a button while I’m away, and there’s no evidence that there’s a stuck button from the way the remote works.
  • I work in NYC and buy most of my batteries at Duane Reed. Maybe they’ve been selling crappy batteries?

So what might be going on here?

And while we’re on the subject, who’s brilliant idea was it to take most of the important interface components off of the VCR itself and stick it on the remote control? Part of the evil conspiracy to make you buy a whole new piece of equipment when you lose the remote control, isn’t it?

2

Some thoughts-

Radio Shack is generally one of the better places to buy batteries due to the good quality of the batteries and (most importantly) high turnover, so the batteries are usually quite fresh.

You can use a camera to videotape your remote to see if it’s operating somehow in off mode. The infrared LED will be visible through the camera viewer in most cases.

Check to see that the terminals of the battery contacts aren’t corroded or tarnished. This can give false indications that the batteries are failing when in fact they are still good. Wooden pencil erasers make excellent tools to gently clean contacts (it’s the mild abrasive in the rubber).

3

Also, dirt and liquids working their way inside the remote can create unintentional circuit paths. Try opening the remote and cleaning the circuit board and the key contacts with either acetone or anhydrous isopropyl alcohol.

4

Sounds like a short…something is grounding out, draining the batts. Go with the previous suggestion to clean up the board and contacts.

Sometimes just an air can is needed, if you don’t want to dabble with solutions, although ultimately, they might be needed.

I would not suspect the batteries or your habits of use. The batts should go months with heavy use.

5

If the remote is getting stuck between cushions or something like that, the buttons could be continuously pressed, hence draining the battery.

6

Sounds like there’s something funky with the remote. I’ll second the suggestions to clean the remote and try Radio Shack for batteries.

If you have a circuit tester, you could check the remote - take the batteries out and check the resistance across the battery terminals. With no buttons pushed, it should read infinite resistance. If it shows some small amount of resistance, then there’s current flowing, and the remote is slowly draining your batteries. Could be food or fluff in the remote or something.

If you can’t get it working: Is your cable box remote a universal remote? You could program it to run your VCR too. Or buy a cheap universal remote.

7

Possibly one of the contacts for a key is stuck in the operating mode so that it is constantly draining your batteries. Check it out if you can or have a professional check it out.

8

Thanks for the info, guys. I’ll crack the thing open and see if cleaning will help. Worse comes to worst, VCRs these days go for less than a few beers.