My Paper Shredder Fried my AVR's remote detector!

[LiveJazz]

Last night my wife went on a marathon paper shredding session. The shredder and my system should be in two different breaker zones in my house, but for some reason, the shredder causes the system's breaker to trip, and not the shredder's. So that's the first weird thing.

So she's shredding away upstairs and the power goes out downstairs where the system is. I was listening to some music via AirPlay at the time. No biggie, we flip the breaker back on.

The AVR (Pioneer VSX-823) will no longer react to its remote , other than the power button and about 3 of the input buttons. I can't even change the volume from the remote. I tried with my universal remote and the remote that came with the receiver with the same results. So I don't think it's a problem with the remotes (the exact same issue with both remotes that were working fine before? No. Also, the universal remote works for all the other pieces of the system.)

Other than the remote issue, the AVR is fine...you can access all the inputs and sound modes, change the volume, get into the menus, etc., if you hit the buttons on the receiver. It seems that just the mechanism that detects remote signals was fried.

Has anyone run into this? I've had the power go out before (not shredder-related) with no ill effects. I'm wondering if the shedder throws out some crazy electrical energy field that scrambles Pio remote detectors after too much exposure?? The receiver is under warranty, but I'd rather not deal with it if there's a way to fix it. Firmware update maybe?

 

[slipperybidness]

That sucks!

Start with a hard factory reset of the Pio. Look in your manual or search online. You will have to reconfig, run the MCACC etc. You might want to write down some of your settings before you do the reset.

If that doesn't do it, then maybe update the firmware or call Pio support.

Next, get your house wiring checked out by a licensed electrician! If the shredder and the Pio are really on different circuits/breakers, then you have a problem! It is best to find that out now before you learn an expensive lesson, or even worse have a fire and lose your house or a loved one.

 

[j_garcia]

What Slipperybidness said is probably the best thing you can start with. I'd probably contact Pio first though. It does sound like there's a potential wiring issue in the house though.

 

[LiveJazz]

Thanks, we have an electrician coming over for something else, but I'll add this to the list.

Any idea how to access the menus needed to do the firmware without the remote? The menu button on the remote is one of the ones that now does nothing, and I don't see any menu-looking buttons on the unit. No luck with the manual. Once again, .

Update: the factory reset fixed it! You can't do the firmware update without the remote, but you can do a reset!