I used to go through AA and AAA batteries like candy. Especially for my TV remote. Every few weeks, it would die right when I was ready to watch something, and I was scrambling through drawers, pulling batteries from clocks or flashlights or whatever other junk had a half-decent charge hiding in it.
It got annoying. Wasteful. And just… kinda dumb. The money down the drain, the hassle of changing batteries in the middle of a movie, and knowing that pile of used batteries was just building up with no chance of recycling it properly. Eventually, I started to search for alternatives. Not a quick fix—but something more permanent, more sustainable, maybe even smarter.
So, I tried a few things. Some were simple, some were a little ridiculous. Some worked better than I expected, and others I definitely wouldn’t do again. If you’re tired of dealing with batteries for your remotes too, here’s what I figured out.
Step One: The Obvious Solution—Should’ve Done This Sooner
The first thing I did—and honestly, I should’ve done this years ago—was switch to rechargeable batteries. AA and AAA NiMH rechargeable batteries. This one change made a massive difference.
No more trips to the store. No more dead remotes, right in the middle of a movie. I got two complete sets of batteries and a smart charger, and just started rotating them. Pop a fresh pair in, toss the old ones in the charger, done.
I did end up scoring Eneloops (you don’t have to, but they have lasted the longest for me thus far). And if you’re going to do this, get a smart charger—one that shows levels and shuts off automatically. The cheap ones can overheat your batteries and kill them early. Lesson learned.
Also: if you have remote controls that you hardly ever use—like for a guest room or garage TV—take the batteries out. Even rechargeable batteries slowly lose charge just sitting there. You might as well store them until you want to use them again.
Then I Got A Bit Nerdy (USB-Powered Remote Hack)
At one point, I had an older remote control for a TV I didn’t care about anymore. Not sentimental, out of warranty, and barely used. So like any reasonable person… I ripped it open and ripped/soldered wires to the battery terminals.
I’m that person now.
I’ve a USB cable going through the back of the remote with a small voltage regulator to bring the 5V down to about 3V—close enough for it to work. Plugged into the wall, hit the power button, and it worked. No more batteries, ever.
Now, obviously, this isn’t universally applicable. You will have to be comfortable with basic wiring. You will void any warranty. You could fry your remote control if you mess up on the polarity (I checked it five times before I touched the soldering iron).
But for a wall mount TV set-up where the remote never really moves? That little Frankenstein remote is still going strong. I love it.
