Replacement tilt switch for Harmony 650

[stevebow]

I had the tilt switch in my Harmony 650 die on me a few months ago. This is rather annoying as the display and backlighting will no longer appear when you tilt the remote up, only when you press a button. I did use a different cylindrical tilt switch jammed in next to the battery compartment, but this was a rather cumbersome fix.

For anyone interested, the original part is a RBS170200T manufactured by OncQue, and can be found at Mouser for around $5:

https://au.mouser.com/ProductDetail/108-17020T

The downside is that shipping is $24 for orders under $60.

There are teardown videos available that show how to disassemble the remote.

I believe this switch is used on all Harmony 6xx and 7xx remotes, but not 100% sure.

[Star6key]

I've used 650's for years. If there was anything on the market that even came close to the amount of buttons it had, I'd jump ship. The unit does what it's supposed to, but in the 6 or so 650's I've bought, none have lasted more than 18 months. Almost always it's because the buttons stop responding (especially the colour buttons). It's cheap crap at a not so cheap price.
One day I might get around to trying to use the youtube videos to see if I can repair them...

[prl]

There seems to be some variability in the quality. Our 785 (which I think is probably the best IR Harmony remote that Logitech made, apart from the setup program) is now 11 years old, and only in the last couple of years have some of the buttons become a bit uncertain.

The silvering on some of the buttons that surround the navigation cluster is quite worn, though, especially on VOL+/-.

[Star6key]

I always lose the facing on the bottom 6 buttons (I hold the remote, a lot ).
11 years is a pretty good life span.
As with almost all companies, they initially make good quality items, and then gradually turn them into crap in the hopes that people will just keep replacing the product. It's obviously working with me, since there is nothing out there that has the same functionality.

[Gully]

I must have been luckier or generally gentler with mine over the years though the Touch that I was using before has some cosmetic damage but still works. (Using the Elite now which is great to use)

[Paul_oz53]

I tried repairing a couple of ours with no real joy. Gave up and bought a hub which we control with our phones. Not very convenient but it works.

[stevebow]

I have posted a piece about a button repair kit here:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=13526

I wanted to wait a little longer before posting this as I have had this kit installed for only two weeks, but after the above comments some may be interested already.

[stevebow]

As with almost all companies, they initially make good quality items, and then gradually turn them into crap in the hopes that people will just keep replacing the product.

I think this sums up Logitech. The buttons on my 650 started playing up after only 1½ years. I would expect the buttons on any remote to be reliable for much longer than that. Many would chuck the remote not long afterwards and buy another. Which of course is what the manufacturers would prefer.

It's a balance between the consumer "consuming" another product within a preferably short time and consumer confidence in their product (e.g. the expectation for product lifespan). Manufacturers shouldn't want their customers to think their product is crap if they fail before a reasonable time (and encourage brand loyalty), yet would like said customers to dispose and purchase a replacement sooner rather than later.