ir-remote-cloner

Last update: Tue Feb 3 22:51:03 2026

I always wanted to backup my old IR remotes. I have old (25+ years) air conditionner units at home, and 2 remotes died on me already. Before I end up without any replacement second hand, let's do a simple project to address that. And also the cheap remotes of some devices (like my TV monitor for instance).

Presentation

Principle

With the python app: scan your old IR remotes, save the codes in a small sqlite DB

Generate the arduino code automatically to clone your remote

Make your own remote clone

Points of interrest

Parts should be quite interchangeable. Aim at 940nm for the IR Led for remote usual range.

Use a transistor (NPN - sink side) to drive the IR LED for max out the power. Choose the resistors as per your LED spec.

Points of frustration

It's using an arduino (or just an ATmega) because it uses the IRremote arduino library. It's a complete waste of power to use such a big chip for that. One day maybe I'll rewrite it with an ATtiny...

The IR Receiver model I use (PL-IRM2121-A538 that I bought a decade or more ago) marked "10T6327" is a greedy m*********er and needs 50mA to work (100ohm resistor R1) though the datasheet says "max 2.5 mA". If you put R1 = 1k then it will receive but can't decode and the program interprets it as garbage. So my protoboard has some artistic pigibacking (but it's their charm, isn't it?)

Implementation

Bill of materials

Schematics

👉　Kicad model in my repo

Original handwritten

Kicad version

Source code

👉 Source code (arduino and python) on my repo

Pictures

Prototype version for arduino

Links

Helpful sources

Inspiration

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