Chromecast with Google TV 4K remote battery issues

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wratterus

1687 posts

Uber Geek

#302720 14-Dec-2022 15:31

Anyone here got a Chromecast with Google TV & has had issues with the remote batteries draining too quickly?

Searching online there seem to be quite a few reports of this, but no solid answers.

I bought one a month or two ago, it's not used all the time as it's in the garage, but the batteries seem to die in about 2 weeks. The batteries that shipped with it lasted that long, I just figured I'd got a dud battery, no problem. Popped some of my Eneloop batteries in (that I use in other remotes with no issues at all) and they seem to be lasting about the same length of time. One time I literally used the remote once after putting in some recharged batteries, and the batteries were dead when I went to use it the next time.

I did wonder, being a bluetooth remote (I assume it's bluetooth anyway) if it was searching for the Chromecast if I powered it off, so I've left it powered on but had the same behaviour.

I've not spent the time to properly confirm this, but twice (with different Eneloop batteries) one of the two in the remote was dead as - like .2v according to the charger I use (Nitecore UM4), and I had quite the job getting it to charge again. This happened twice, with different batteries that had been fine up until that point, and are still fine currently in a TV remote.

I could just take the device back & get a replacement, but I'm not sure if I'll see the same behaviour or not.

pih

649 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3009983 14-Dec-2022 15:38

No problems here, been running for months with the same set of Eneloops.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#3009991 14-Dec-2022 16:22

I was running mine of Eneloops as well, with no issues.

Until my toddler decided to send some of daddy's remotes for a swim in the bath last year, which killed it (and the Roku remote). That's when I found out they wouldn't ship the remote to NZ (they would sell it in countries where the unit had been officially released, so it may now be available in NZ). In the end I replaced it with the Mecool remote, which I actually prefer to the original one for usability and which has been on the same set of batteries for 6 months without needing a charge. I think it was about $US 17 shipped.

If I get another one for the guest room, I may buy another Mecool, and leave the Google remote in the box.

I think it was this model https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002468730785.html if you are interested, although I didn't get mine from Aliexpress. I can't seem to find the site I used at the moment.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#3010007 14-Dec-2022 17:45

I had an issue where the original batteires drained after about 4 months of minor usuage. They don't seem to last as long as a normal IR remote but that maybe because it is bluetooth?

gzt

17104 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3010010 14-Dec-2022 18:31

No problems here. Call it in. You'll get a replacement imo. Could be some odd Bluetooth conditions in your garage and it's on high power all the time. Hard to explain two weeks even then. Maybe try pair it again.

tchart

2379 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#3010026 14-Dec-2022 20:32

No problem here. Was using same batteries that it came with (so 18 months!) until my son knicked them the other day. Sounds like you’ve got a dud.

I forget which appliance it was but I once had a bad remote that would go through a set of batteries in a week.

MrsteveO

28 posts

Geek

#3046049 5-Mar-2023 16:10

Im having the same issue now. The original batteries lasted 12 months and now a pair of energiser alkaline batteries last 3 days. Dreading the day that my second unit starts to have this issue ill soon spend more on batteries than the CC is worth. Pretty unhappy with the product now and will definitely switch to something else if I cant resolve it soon.

MrsteveO

28 posts

Geek

#3046050 5-Mar-2023 16:15

mattwnz:

I had an issue where the original batteires drained after about 4 months of minor usuage. They don't seem to last as long as a normal IR remote but that maybe because it is bluetooth?

How is the Meecool remote working now? Are you still happy with it?

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robjg63

4096 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#3046069 5-Mar-2023 18:14

You just made me go and check!

Purchased CCwGTV in March 2021 - Used daily and still has the 'google' batteries that it came with.

So that's 2 years so far. Don't know what to say really.....

Any stuck buttons?

I know the CCwGTV (Couldnt they have got a shorter name?) has a mix of Bluetooth and IR.

I have the CCwGTV hanging off the back of my AMP and have HDMI-CEC turned on (of course). So not sure whether it uses BT to wake/control the CCwGTV, or IR to wake the TV/AMP and CEC-HDMI to control everything else.

Either way - BT or IR *shouldnt* use too much power.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

wratterus

1687 posts

Uber Geek

#3046154 6-Mar-2023 08:06

I was supposed to give an update on this sorry. Took it back (to Noel Leeming), explained the testing I'd done, they replaced it no issues (the whole lot, not just the remote) and the new one has been fine. So I think I got a dud remote.