Do IR Receivers fail?

orgone500 · 2nd July 2012, 10:05 PM

Hi all. I have a media player that stopped reponding to the remote control. Thinking it was the remote playing up, I bought a universal remote which didn't work either. I verified that the old remote was sending commands to the univeral remote correctly, so it has to be a fault with the device itself. I opened it up and there is a seperate board that has the IR receiver as well as the power LED and an SD slot. The IR receiver is labelled 1838B. There is one capacitor on the main board that is slightly raised. It is worth trying to replace the receiver, or is it most likely to be a component else where and not worth the hastle?

SLATYE · 2nd July 2012, 10:20 PM

They shouldn't fail any more frequently than any other electronic device - so failures will be rare but not impossible.

If there's a bulging capacitor, it'd probably be worth replacing that. Otherwise, if nothing obvious is wrong, it'll probably cost more than the device is worth to get it fixed.

dakiller · 2nd July 2012, 11:06 PM

Stick a multimeter on the data pin and ground of the IR chip and you should be able to detect that something is getting through by holding down a button constantly. Measuring DC, it should be either 5v or 0v out at rest, and around 2.5v with constant data received.

orgone500 · 3rd July 2012, 6:45 AM

Thanks guys for your advice. I'll have a play and see how I go.

Cheers.

aXis · 3rd July 2012, 3:23 PM

Also, some recievers can be particularly sensitive to interference - either sunlight or plasma TV's - and the cheaper ones on crappy chinese products are worse.

If you check out the IR chip with a multimeter/scope you might see it chattering away even when you dont press a button.

IzzehO · 3rd July 2012, 3:45 PM

First things first, rule out its the remote controls fault. Point the IR LED at a camera and watch it on the screen. If you see it light up on the screen then we know it is working.

Franc · 3rd July 2012, 8:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IzzehO

First things first, rule out its the remote controls fault. Point the IR LED at a camera and watch it on the screen. If you see it light up on the screen then we know it is working.

Hes already tested it.

orgone500 · 4th July 2012, 7:57 PM

ok. Verified the remote is definitely working with the camera test (used a point and shoot camera, doesn't work on the iphone 4S). Replaced the dodgy capacitor with one from an old motherboard, but still no response to the remote. Between the middle and outside pin there are 5 volts, and when holding down the remote button the voltage doesn't vary at all...

IzzehO · 4th July 2012, 8:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orgone500

Replaced the dodgy capacitor with one from an old motherboard, but still no response to the remote.

Did you uhh... use one with the same capacitance?

orgone500 · 4th July 2012, 8:18 PM

Give me some credit. (I won't back the soldering job though....)

IzzehO · 4th July 2012, 8:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orgone500

Give me some credit. (I won't back the soldering job though....)

I'm just surprised given the effort it would have taken to find a matching one on another board. Unfortunately there isn't really much else you can do, there is no real (easy) way of knowing where the fault is occuring, and even then, fixing it.

Perhaps you could try replacing the actual IR reciever itself if you can secure an equivalent, but they may just be throwing away good money.

orgone500 · 4th July 2012, 8:28 PM

Toying with the idea but three legs might be beyond my de-soldering ability. Still, for $2 might be worth a try..

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VS1838B-I...item3cbd62028b

dakiller · 4th July 2012, 8:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orgone500

Toying with the idea but three legs might be beyond my de-soldering ability. Still, for $2 might be worth a try..

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VS1838B-I...item3cbd62028b

If you don't care about the component you are desoldering, then just cut its legs off and remove each leg from the pcb after that. A very doable repair for a novice

IzzehO · 4th July 2012, 9:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakiller

If you don't care about the component you are desoldering, then just cut its legs off and remove each leg from the pcb after that. A very doable repair for a novice

This.

Or just the good old fashion wiggle it out. Pliers and some patience. Or some desoldering wick/solder sucker.

orgone500 · 4th July 2012, 10:06 PM

Thanks guys. Replacement part on order from china. How the hell they can make money out of 1.99 + free postage.

2nd July 2012, 10:05 PM	#1
orgone500 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern Rivers NSW Posts: 181	Do IR Receivers fail? Hi all. I have a media player that stopped reponding to the remote control. Thinking it was the remote playing up, I bought a universal remote which didn't work either. I verified that the old remote was sending commands to the univeral remote correctly, so it has to be a fault with the device itself. I opened it up and there is a seperate board that has the IR receiver as well as the power LED and an SD slot. The IR receiver is labelled 1838B. There is one capacitor on the main board that is slightly raised. It is worth trying to replace the receiver, or is it most likely to be a component else where and not worth the hastle?

2nd July 2012, 10:20 PM	#2
SLATYE SLATYE, not SLAYTE Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Canberra Posts: 25,771	They shouldn't fail any more frequently than any other electronic device - so failures will be rare but not impossible. If there's a bulging capacitor, it'd probably be worth replacing that. Otherwise, if nothing obvious is wrong, it'll probably cost more than the device is worth to get it fixed. __________________ Main system: Phenom II X4 920 \| 8GB (4x 2GB) DDR2-800 \| Gigabyte M57SLI-S4 v2.0 \| Leadtek Geforce 9600GSO 384MB \| Enermax Modu82+ 525W \| 1TB Hitachi HDD \| 3.5" + 5.25" FDD Laptop: Compal EL80 \| C2D T7200 \| 320GB Fujistu HDD \| 2GB DDR2-667 \| GF Go 7600

2nd July 2012, 11:06 PM	#3
dakiller (Oscillating & Impeding) Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: SE Melb Posts: 6,151	Stick a multimeter on the data pin and ground of the IR chip and you should be able to detect that something is getting through by holding down a button constantly. Measuring DC, it should be either 5v or 0v out at rest, and around 2.5v with constant data received. __________________ In memory of Cheers Z

3rd July 2012, 3:23 PM	#5
aXis Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Kalgoorlie, WA Posts: 3,307	Also, some recievers can be particularly sensitive to interference - either sunlight or plasma TV's - and the cheaper ones on crappy chinese products are worse. If you check out the IR chip with a multimeter/scope you might see it chattering away even when you dont press a button. __________________ Former OCAU Extreme Cooling Club H2O Member Intel Core Duo E6600 Noctua NH-U12F

4th July 2012, 7:57 PM	#8
orgone500 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern Rivers NSW Posts: 181	ok. Verified the remote is definitely working with the camera test (used a point and shoot camera, doesn't work on the iphone 4S). Replaced the dodgy capacitor with one from an old motherboard, but still no response to the remote. Between the middle and outside pin there are 5 volts, and when holding down the remote button the voltage doesn't vary at all... Last edited by orgone500; 4th July 2012 at 8:08 PM.

3rd July 2012, 6:45 AM	#4
orgone500 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern Rivers NSW Posts: 181	Thanks guys for your advice. I'll have a play and see how I go. Cheers.

3rd July 2012, 3:45 PM	#6
IzzehO Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Hawthorn East, Vic Posts: 854	First things first, rule out its the remote controls fault. Point the IR LED at a camera and watch it on the screen. If you see it light up on the screen then we know it is working.

4th July 2012, 8:18 PM	#10
orgone500 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern Rivers NSW Posts: 181	Give me some credit. (I won't back the soldering job though....)

4th July 2012, 8:28 PM	#12
orgone500 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern Rivers NSW Posts: 181	Toying with the idea but three legs might be beyond my de-soldering ability. Still, for $2 might be worth a try.. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VS1838B-I...item3cbd62028b

4th July 2012, 10:06 PM	#15
orgone500 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern Rivers NSW Posts: 181	Thanks guys. Replacement part on order from china. How the hell they can make money out of 1.99 + free postage.