Topic: Wiimote Battery Solutions

[Smash_Brother]

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.

[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.

[Smash_Brother]

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?

[31 Flavas]

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.  

[UltimatePartyBear]

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.

[Smash_Brother]

Ah, I didn't know Li-ons were so unstable...

Well, thank god for NiMH, then.

[UERD]

I'm pretty sure LiON AA-sized batteries would be an enormous liability, especially when kids start putting them in their mouths...

[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....

[Louieturkey]

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.

[Smash_Brother]

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.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

How long did your free batteries last?

[Hostile Creation]

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.

[bustin98]

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.

[MANTI5]

I got the Energizer charger with 4 batteries for $20 at Walmart a few days after launch, definately worth it.

[Plugabugz]

This is the solution - and they ship to america!

[BiLdItUp1]

bah, 1300mAH on those USB thingies. ++ cool factor though

[Smash_Brother]

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

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

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.  

[Smash_Brother]

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?

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

I apologize.  I lose track of who I send to, especially after getting the 20 Mii limit message.

[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.

[Ghisy]

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.

[Smash_Brother]

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?