On May 6, 4:37*pm, "Ron P" wrote:
wrote in message

...





On Thu, 6 May 2010 13:31:12 -0700, "Ron P" wrote:

"ransley" wrote in message
....
On May 6, 12:13 pm, Jim Yanik wrote:
"Ron P" wrote
:

I have in my home a Microsoft wireless keyboard which uses 3 AA
batteries. It transmits to a nearby receiver which is connected to a
USB port on the computer. *When the keyboard was new, the batteries
would last for 7 or 8 months. *For some strange reason, I'm now
changing them monthly.

Recently, I was away for a week and the system was completely shut
down. When I returned and booted up, the keyboard was lifeless. *I
tested the batteries, and they tested completely and totally drained
on my meter. That's unusual, because they usually test just weak when
I replace them. So, while I was gone and the system was off,
something
drained the batteries completely.

At first, I assumed it was the keyboard, so I replaced it with
another
one of the same model, an older one that I still had on hand. *Same
result, one month. *Does this make sense to anyone? *Thanks.

maybe a stuck key that causes the keyboard to constantly emit the IR
signal? Or something pressing a key.... something laying on the KB?
Or dirt/crud causing leakage that makes the KB emit the IR signal
constantly.
Idea;try using a digital camera to view the IR emitter to see if it's
on
when there's no keys depressed. Press a key to see what happens that
way,too.

Maybe you should switch to those pre-charged NiMH rechargeables.
They hold their charge much better than ordinary NiMH cells.
Then you can recharge them every so often and not buy so many alkaline
cells.

as a last resort,you could clean your KB in the auto
dishwasher(alone,not
with dishes..) and dry -thoroughly- with a hair dryer.
use a gel detergent,not the abrasive powder detergents.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Good idea, My camera and digicam sees IR, that is how ive tested
remotes that were dead.

How is this done? *I just now tried pointing my camera at the keyboard and
hitting some keys. *I didn't see any change in the display.
Many of them are RF (radio). *There is no IR to see. *All I can think
of that would affect both your current as well as the older
replacement keyboard are leaky capacitors that cause more current
drain than the design called for. *If that's it, it would be age
related rather than usage related. *Or, as others said, someone places
something on your keyboard that presses a key continuously. *You
probalby would have noticed that. *Good luck.

It is old, maybe 7-8 years, and you're right, it is RF. *I should have
realized that. *I should probably get a new one, but I've yet to see one
with a special key assortment/selection that I like as much. Plus, the
Windows 7 drivers work well.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Rf ok , it wont work sorry I was thinking an IR led. could it be
transmitting continously from a stuck key, maybe a real cleaning could
help.