Convert Any Remote to USB-C Charging in Under an Hour
Upgrade your remote with USB-C charging using this simple hack, and you'll never need to hunt for batteries again.
Sometimes it’s the littlest life hacks that prove to be the most useful. Let’s be honest — we’ve all spent months working on a personal project that ended up going right back in the drawer almost as soon as it was finished. The fact of the matter is that the amount of effort we put in has little to do with how useful the end result will be.
Consider TARIQ LAB’s recent hack, for instance. It is a very small project that can be completed in under an hour, but it will feel like a huge win. TARIQ LAB demonstrated a simple method that can make virtually any remote control rechargeable via USB. Sure, you could just put rechargeable batteries in the remote and call it a day. But in today’s world where everything is charged with a USB cable, pulling out the batteries and tracking down a specialized charging cradle feels pretty clunky.
To make this work, TARIQ LAB first removed the AAA batteries from a remote control. Next, diodes were soldered to one of the spring terminals. A 3.7V rechargeable Li-ion battery was soldered to these diodes and the other spring terminal — the battery capacity is up to you, but between 50 and 350 mAh was suggested. Finally, a USB-C Li-ion battery charging module was wired into the circuit.
That’s all there is to it. Pretty easy, huh? As a finishing touch, some double-sided tape was used to secure the battery and charging module in place. Now when the remote runs low on power, all you have to do is plug it into the nearest USB-C port and you’ll be good in no time.
If you are thinking about trying this out for yourself, be sure to check out the video below. TARIQ LAB walks through the process step-by-step to get you on the right path.