My Favorite Discovery: The Solar Remote
Ok, this one was an entire surprise. I recently got a new TV and part of the reason I chose this model is because of the remote (it charges with ambient light). Just light, in the room. No batteries to swap out, no cords to plug in anywhere. It even has a USB-C port, just in case!
During the day I keep the remote snug close to the window, and it just…charges. I haven’t even had to tap into the USB port yet. I really wish all remotes worked like this.
The only downside is, it’s not universal. These remotes are made for specific brands. But, if you’re shopping for a new TV, or streaming device, and solar is on the table? Buy it. It’s honestly the simplest sustainable choice I’ve made in a long time.
I Also Tried Wireless Charging Remotes
They’re still kind of niche, but I played with one a while back, while installing the smart home hub as a part of my demo. It worked like a flat surface and once you’re going, you just plop the remote on the little charging pad, and it charges—no batteries, no plugging in anywhere, just stays topped off.
It was a surprisingly good experience, especially given that the remote had a “home base” to return to, like how we all charge our phones now. However, the wireless charging option is definitely a premium product. You really need the entire system built out to support it, and then there’s the reality that if you misplace the remote… yeah, you’re out of luck.
It’s cool, it’s futuristic, it’s kind of convenient—but probably excessive unless you’re already going down the smart home rabbit hole.
Mistakes? Oh Yeah.
Look. I’m not gonna pretend I didn’t mess a few things up.
The first time I tried soldering in a remote, I melted a plastic contact because I held the iron too long. Dude, I’ve wired a remote backwards once—it literally wouldn’t turn on until I flipped the polarity. Swear to God, I wasted a bunch of money on no-name rechargeables that couldn’t hold a charge to save my life. Don’t do that.
Oh, I also once left a solar remote in a windowless room for too long. Whoops. Like us, it just wants some light every now and then, too.
Anyway, I learned. Use low heat. Label your terminals. Buy decent batteries. Don’t put solar stuff in the box. No drama—just trial and error.
So Where Am I Now?
Currently, I have a solar remote in my living room. A rechargeable one in my bedroom. The garage TV is still plugged into the USB-powered mutant I built. And I haven’t purchased a disposable battery for a remote in over a year.
I really don’t miss it. The waste. The cost. The last-minute scramble when the remote stops working, and the only thing I can find to assist my efforts is a package of mismatched batteries, which may or may not be from 2015.
It’s crazy how satisfying it is to not deal with replacements and rechargeables. One small annoyance is simply…gone.
So yeah. If you’re even considering doing something smarter with your remotes—just do it. Start small. Buy a couple junk rechargeables. Or hell, if you’re crazy, solder a USB cable to something old and see what you get.
One less thing to toss. One more thing that just works.
