Gaming Forums => Nintendo Gaming => Topic started by: Smash_Brother on December 20, 2006, 07:56:15 AM
Title: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: Smash_Brother on December 20, 2006, 07:56:15 AM
I just picked up an energizer NiMH charger at Circuit City which came with 4 NiMH 2500 mAh AA batteries and I picked up another pack of 4, all for $42.
These advertise that they are specifically-geared for high-drain devices like digital cameras (and Wiimotes are certainly high-drain devices).
If this works out, within 4 months it will have paid for itself in battery costs, and that doesn't take into account the 4 player games which could show up and increase battery expenditure tenfold.
There's also this little gem, but it's not out in the states as of yet and they're backordered.
What's everyone else doing for batteries?
EDIT: Wrong link.
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: Bloodworth on December 20, 2006, 07:59:23 AM
I've been using those same type of batteries since the Japanese GBA launch and I have quite a few of them. Disposable batteries should be outlawed.
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: Smash_Brother on December 20, 2006, 08:07:38 AM
What I'd like to know is why there are no rechargeable lithium-ion AA batteries.
L-Ion IS a rechargeable technology (the DS and SP both use it) so why no AAs?
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: 31 Flavas on December 20, 2006, 08:35:13 AM
Voltage differences. A Li-ion cell puts out 3.3 volts, i'm told. Where as NiMH / NiCads put out 1.2 volts. It's not worth it to split a li-ion cell.
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: UltimatePartyBear on December 20, 2006, 08:36:13 AM
Probably because of a combination of the limited shelf-life of Li-ion batteries (you don't want to buy them after they've been sitting on a retailer's shelf for a year), safety concerns (the infamous Sony laptop batteries were Li-ion), the fact that over-discharging the batteries ruins them, and the fact that they're more expensive because of efforts to counter those last two problems.
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: Smash_Brother on December 20, 2006, 08:43:46 AM
Ah, I didn't know Li-ons were so unstable...
Well, thank god for NiMH, then.
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: UERD on December 20, 2006, 08:54:48 AM
I'm pretty sure LiON AA-sized batteries would be an enormous liability, especially when kids start putting them in their mouths...
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: ryancoke on December 20, 2006, 09:02:27 AM
what ever happened to alkaline rechargables? Does anybody still use these? Here's a non-nintendo question that's right up the alley of this thread. Why do current cordless phones use the rechargable batteries that have a memory? why don't they use batteries similar to cellphone li-on? This has been bugging me for a couple years since my stupid cordeless phone won't hold a charge for more than half an hour....
Title: RE:Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: Louieturkey on December 20, 2006, 09:08:35 AM
Quote Originally posted by: Bloodworth I've been using those same type of batteries since the Japanese GBA launch and I have quite a few of them. Disposable batteries should be outlawed.
Heh, it's now illegal to throw batteries away in California. You have to take them to dedicated recycling areas (Walmart does it for you). So they are in a sense in CA.
Title: RE:Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: Smash_Brother on December 20, 2006, 09:17:11 AM
Quote Originally posted by: ryancoke what ever happened to alkaline rechargables? Does anybody still use these? Here's a non-nintendo question that's right up the alley of this thread. Why do current cordless phones use the rechargable batteries that have a memory? why don't they use batteries similar to cellphone li-on? This has been bugging me for a couple years since my stupid cordeless phone won't hold a charge for more than half an hour....
I've tried Rayovacs and they perform horribly. They're just not potent enough to stand up to Wiimote use and die within a matter of hours.
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 20, 2006, 11:07:27 AM
How long did your free batteries last?
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: Hostile Creation on December 20, 2006, 11:39:54 AM
I've just been leeching my parents batteries, energizers. They have dozens of them, so it hasn't been a problem yet. They last about twenty hours, it seems, give or take a few. I may end up doing something like this eventually, though.
Title: RE:Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: bustin98 on December 20, 2006, 01:03:34 PM
I love the Engergizer rechargables, too. I use them for my Wavebird and 360 controllers, as well as my digital cameras. I may have to get more soon since I have added two Wii controllers.
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: MANTI5 on December 20, 2006, 03:26:21 PM
I got the Energizer charger with 4 batteries for $20 at Walmart a few days after launch, definately worth it.
Title: RE:Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: Plugabugz on December 20, 2006, 08:31:06 PM
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: BiLdItUp1 on December 21, 2006, 02:25:42 AM
bah, 1300mAH on those USB thingies. ++ cool factor though
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: Smash_Brother on December 21, 2006, 02:35:11 AM
I'm testing some old Energizer 1700 mAh AA NiMHs right now. I filled two Wiimotes with them and, thus far, they didn't lose any charge through last night's Elebits and Metal Slug sessions of play.
I mention this because the Rayovac batteries began losing charge rapidly, lasting less than an hour in some cases.
So, in summary (thus far):
NiMH = Good and usable Rechargeable Alkaline = Definite NO
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 21, 2006, 05:04:54 AM
I'm not receiving enough info on those Rayovacs of yours. What's the mAh, how old are they, when where they last charged, what games did you play, etc. My Rayovacs are working fine (modern 2500mAh models).
And you'd better send a Mii over otherwise i'm kicking you off my list, mr. Box Face.
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: Smash_Brother on December 21, 2006, 08:20:36 AM
To be fair, these Rayos are pretty old, but about the same age as the energizer 1700s which work just fine thus far.
As for Miis, I'll send you one but please stop sending Lucy. How did you know my LEAST favorite cartoon character ever?
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on December 21, 2006, 11:20:17 AM
I apologize. I lose track of who I send to, especially after getting the 20 Mii limit message.
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: God Speaks on December 21, 2006, 08:45:55 PM
Get some of the new Sanyo Eneloop NiMH batteries with a good charger. These new NiMH batteries have negligible self discharge rates compared to other NiMH batteries thus making them suitable for usage in devices like a Wiimote or regular TV remotes. Expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $15 for a 4-pack.
Title: RE: Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: Ghisy on December 22, 2006, 02:33:55 AM
I got a charger and 4 NiMH batteries (2700 mAH) for like 40 bucks. The first charge lasted me a good 2 weeks and I didn't wait for them to be drained completely.
Title: RE:Wiimote Battery Solutions
Post by: Smash_Brother on December 22, 2006, 06:09:45 AM
Quote Originally posted by: God Speaks Get some of the new Sanyo Eneloop NiMH batteries with a good charger. These new NiMH batteries have negligible self discharge rates compared to other NiMH batteries thus making them suitable for usage in devices like a Wiimote or regular TV remotes. Expect to pay anywhere from $10 to $15 for a 4-pack.
Will they work in a standard NiMH charger, though?
