Unusual problem with remote control of my Panasonic TV

Molehusband

getmore4less said:

Those are the symptoms you get with low battery.

When were they last changed?

I check all my batteries (of which I have scores in numerous devices) around the house regularly using one of a number of battery testers which I have been using for decades. Consequently, I've never incurred a battery changing problem and every one of my battery powered devices is working 100% 24/7. One of the first things I did when the remote control problem started occurring a month or so ago was to check batteries and they were OK and no need to change. The recent remote control problem usually manifests itself for about a day or so and then it all starts working 100% fine (as it is today) without my touching the batteries.

So the remote control problem is definitely nothing to do with batteries and more likely to be related to heat/humidity.

shiraz99

Don't clean it with WD40. If you want to give it a good clean and you're happy to take it apart use some compressed air to blow out any dust and loose dirt and carefully clean any grime with IPA (Isopropyl alcohol, not the beer).

shiraz99

Probably a cheap, Chinese copy but may work:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272142740771

Molehusband

shiraz99 said:

Don't clean it with WD40. If you want to give it a good clean and you're happy to take it apart use some compressed air to blow out any dust and loose dirt and carefully clean any grime with IPA (Isopropyl alcohol, not the beer).

I prefer not to have to take the remote apart due to the number of miniscule screws which might get lost. Since the heat/humidity has significantly decreased in the last couple of days or so the remote has started to work perfectly again without my having to do anything. I therefore sense the problem could be heat/humidity related as I've mentioned before. I did ask for advice as to should the problem recur I could perhaps place the remote in the fridge for a while to cool it down, but no one has responded.

Molehusband

shiraz99 said:

Probably a cheap, Chinese copy but may work:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272142740771

Immediately after the problem first started a month or 2 ago I purchased a brand new One For All Contour Remote.control (costing not much more than the cheap EBAY stuff). Unfortunately the set-up instructions are a bit complicated to say the least and I haven't managed to locate any human help on the One For All  website. But as my Panasonic remote currently seems to be working perfectly (presumably due to lower heat/humidity) I'm not sure I really need another remote.

Rodders53

Battery voltage tends to drop with higher temperatures and when 'on load' - i.e. firing IR to the sensor.  So cooling the batteries might help, or not.

It might be IR flooding the TV sensor, or a sensor temperature issue as much as the remote/batteries.  Temperatures can alter the frequencies of electronic circuits so that some signals are 'out of range' in transmit (or receive); but difficult to check without proper electronics test instruments.

I assume the battery tester does present a load when checking...  I'd replace batteries if/when it next happens to see if it cures it (and immediately replace old ones back in if they test OK to try to prove something - or not.)  Or check battery volts with a multimeter while pressing the buttons to see if it drops too low if the load current is higher than the battery tester uses to give a 'pass'.

Methodical scientific elimination of likely causes is the name of this game.

Molehusband

Rodders53 said:

Battery voltage tends to drop with higher temperatures and when 'on load' - i.e. firing IR to the sensor.  So cooling the batteries might help, or not.

It might be IR flooding the TV sensor, or a sensor temperature issue as much as the remote/batteries.  Temperatures can alter the frequencies of electronic circuits so that some signals are 'out of range' in transmit (or receive); but difficult to check without proper electronics test instruments.

I assume the battery tester does present a load when checking...  I'd replace batteries if/when it next happens to see if it cures it (and immediately replace old ones back in if they test OK to try to prove something - or not.)  Or check battery volts with a multimeter while pressing the buttons to see if it drops too low if the load current is higher than the battery tester uses to give a 'pass'.

Methodical scientific elimination of likely causes is the name of this game.

I've had the remote for about 12 years and have been testing and replacing batteries on hundreds of pieces of equipment for decades with no problems at all. The remote is currently working 100% perfectly and has been for just under the last couple of days. Yet I have not touched the batteries in any way at all for several days, so how can there be a low battery problem?

I come back to my earlier unanswered question:
Since I believe the problem is probably heat/humidity related, can I safely put the device into my fridge to cool it? Secondly, regarding batteries, can they be safely placed in fridge too during a heatwave, either inside the remote or on their own?

Molehusband

getmore4less said:

Molehusband said:

in_my_wellies said:

I've had a similar problem with my old(ish) Panasonic. I found switching it off at the wall then back on again cured the problem

You mean switching off the TV itself?  Unfortunately, that's not a solution for me since every time I turn off the TV I have a device fitted to the power point which totally switches off the power to the TV.

Some of those use more power than the TV on standby.

I don't mind. I have several TVs and my priority is to turn them off completely when not in use. I was merely answering in_my_wellies who suggested that switching off/on at the mains solved the problem for them but unfortunately it doesn't solve mine.

prowla

Molehusband said:

Olinda99 said:

Have you considered buying a replacement remote?

As it's quite an old TV, I suspect Panasonic may no longer stock replacement remotes. In any case, since the problem seems to caused by extreme heat/ humidity, is there any guarantee that the same problem won't occur with a Panasonic replacement? Right now with dropped temperature my remote is working perfectly, but I have no idea when the next drop out may occur.

All the more likely for there to be spare used one about, eg. on ebay.

Molehusband

prowla said:

Molehusband said:

Olinda99 said:

Have you considered buying a replacement remote?

As it's quite an old TV, I suspect Panasonic may no longer stock replacement remotes. In any case, since the problem seems to caused by extreme heat/ humidity, is there any guarantee that the same problem won't occur with a Panasonic replacement? Right now with dropped temperature my remote is working perfectly, but I have no idea when the next drop out may occur.

All the more likely for there to be spare used one about, eg. on ebay.

You may have missed what I said earlier:
As soon as the problem started a couple of months or so ago, I purchased a brand new One For All Contour Universal Remote control so need no further spares. However, since currently the existing remote is working 100% perfectly, I believe the problem is probably heat/humidity related.
I would like to know if it is OK/safe to place the remote + batteries in the fridge to cool down in the event of further extreme heat.