About this replacement
URC TRC-1080 / TRC-820 — 3.7V Li-ion Replacement Battery (BTBL73386)
This is a 3.7V, 1700mAh Li-ion battery for the URC TRC-1080, TRC-820, RM-2, and R100 programmable universal remotes. It replaces OEM part BTBL73386 directly. When the original cell has exhausted its charge cycles, this brings the remote back to full operation across all paired devices.
- TRC-1080 and TRC-820 platform fit: Both remotes share the same internal battery bay dimensions and 3.7V single-cell architecture. The BTBL73386 connector and PCB contacts are consistent across these models, so one part number covers the group without modification.
- Bench tested on actual hardware: We ran this cell through charge and discharge cycles on the TRC-1080 platform. The protection circuit responded correctly to full-charge cutoff and discharged cleanly down to the low-voltage floor without triggering a premature BMS lockout.
- Li-ion storage care for remotes left on the shelf: If this remote sits unused for weeks at a time, store the battery between 40–60% charge. A Li-ion cell left fully charged in a low-draw device loses capacity faster than one stored at mid-charge — URC remotes draw a parasitic standby current even when idle.
Why the TRC-1080 IR signal weakens before the battery reads as dead
IR LEDs in URC remotes need a minimum voltage threshold to fire at full output — typically above 3.5V for this cell chemistry. As the battery ages and its internal resistance rises, voltage sags under the brief current spike each button press demands. The remote still powers the display and registers keypresses, but the IR pulse falls short of the threshold needed to reach a TV or receiver at normal distance. Replacing the cell restores the voltage headroom the LED circuit needs.
Remote completely unresponsive after battery swap
The most common cause is reversed polarity at install — the BTBL73386 connector is keyed, but the cell can be seated incorrectly if forced. Check that the positive terminal aligns with the marked orientation inside the bay. If orientation is correct and the remote still won't respond, the protection circuit may have tripped during shipping; connect the battery to the charger for 10–15 minutes to re-initialise the BMS before retesting. The cell should read at least 3.6V on a multimeter at rest once it has recovered.