I have a Harbor Breeze fan in a great room that requires a remote. There is an array of three light switches on one wall that control the fan, a large hanging chandler in the foyer and the third switch is not wired. I mounted the remote for the fan about four inches to the left of the array. I then left the switch that controls the fan (light and fan) in the on position, and just used the remote when needed. Since we moved in, in early October, we have gone through 4 9volt batteries in the remote. What could cause the drain on the batteries, a proximity to the switch, leaving the switch on all the time, bad batteries, or something wrong with the remote itself? Incidentally they were all Duracel 9 volt batteries. Thanks for the time. I have asked a few friends who work with electricity and all of them didn't have a clue. I thought perhaps a Harbor Breeze website would uncover the same malady and offer a solution.

Tom Boland

I was ready to ask if Duracell batteries were being used as I read the first half of your question. Amazing that I see you mention Duracell later on.

Me personally have no luck with this brand of battery, along with Energizer. I have the best luck with Ray-o-Vac. Radio Shack also has good life batteries.

While I am no expert on fans and their remotes, I see no reason that a battery in a remote be drained when not being used, assuming the remote control is in good operating condition.

Really? Energizer lasts the longest for me, with Rayovac and Duracell being the worst. I've had excellent luck with rechargeable batteries designed for electronics such as digital cameras.

Make sure no buttons are stuck on the remote.

I know, must be one's personal aura or something that affects battery life. I hear all kinds of pros and cons for all of them.

So you keep your bunny and I will keep whatever ROV has... whatever. Probably an armadillo or something cute like that.

I knew you would think of something.

I'm supposed to be programmed to love Rayovac, as their headquarters is about 2 miles from me. They ARE cheaper, I'll give them that much.

Honestly I usually buy Walgreens brand batteries, or rechargeables.


Also, to the original poster, it sounds like you would be better off with an RF wall control or hard wired wall control, rather than a wireless remote.

I have had the same problem with my fan and have tried all battery types, none seem to work any longer than others. I used to have a hunter with a remote that had AAA batteries in it and replaced them once in 2 years. Is this something I am going to have to deal with forever with this fan or is there a solution to this problem. I have gone through about 6-7 batteries since August.

Maybe something spilt inside or making contact, drawing power, I would take apart and do visual at the least, if no sign of damage, replace remote. The fan will not cause the remote to draw more power, I know you know that.

Could be as Strat suggests, could just be a cheap fan/remote.

Something could have been spilled on the keyboard keeping a button pushed or partially pushed. It probably needs taken apart and cleaned. Alcohol and/or dishwasher detergent and water.

I'd be very careful with any liquids. Electrical contact cleaner is better.

A lot of contact cleaners have lubercants in them which is something you don't want until you get all the gunk out. They also don't remove sugar from dried beverages well. Alcohol will displace water.

You've obviously never had to deal with electronic grade cleaning or flux removal from printed circuit boards. Trichlofloroethelene to remove grease, Methanol to remove organics and Freon dip followed by an immediate dry with an inert gas. This was to remove leakages below a few pA or 1E-12 Amps.

It is obvious that there is a definite short with in the remote control unit in order for the batteries to keep going dead quickly. Some function of the remote control is not cutting completely off when the off selection is made causing the batteries to continue to drain until they are dead. This principal is similar to a Digital Camera. You can not leave batteries in some cameras for the same reason. I have two cameras with that problem. They have been that way since they were new. Have your remote checked out by a professional and I believe that he can solve your problem.

Depends what type of cleaner you use. I have about 5 different varieties. But I would be very wary of instructing anyone to use soap and water inside a circuit board.


Have your remote checked out by a professional and I believe that he can solve your problem.

What in the world kind of professional do you get to look at a $30 ceiling fan remote?

There are repair shops every where that repair anything electronic including remote control units. Let your fingers do the walking through the yellow pages. Or you could contact the manufacturer of your unit for help.

Sadly, remote control fans are part of our throw-away culture. The closest option to 'repair' is to replace the remote.

I AM the repair shop from the yellow pages.

During my career of 30 plus years in the construction industry, I found a need to have others in the construction business as business associates and friends because I found out early on that I did not know all there was to know about construction. I found this to be very helpful in my career and just maybe you should try that too.

You never know what another can teach you if you are only willing to listen!

Sounds like good advice. You should listen to it.

I am glad you can recognize good advice when you hear it. Now if you would apply the good advice given you just might proceed with life.

Unless you are stuck in your disposable world. In that event throw that remote away and proceed to the next question!!

Hang around here a little bit, you'll learn something.

There appears to be two different points of views regarding either repairing a low cost item or replacing with new.

To each his own, let the technician decide which is better for a customer on a case by case basis.

Seems there is not much more to say, so I am closing this discussion.