Topic: What to do with the remote when the console is off?

[MorningStar]

I get this feeling that my batteries for my Wiimote are draining way too fast. What are you supposed to do with the remote after you turn off your Wii console? Do you just simply take it off and put it down? or do you have to turn it off somehow? I know there isn't an "off" button for the remote, but I have this strange feeling that my remote is dying a LITTLE too fast when compared to how often I use it. The batteries that came with the console died today and I don't feel that I play that often.

Anybody else have this problem/feeling?

[Crimm]

It seems that if you use the remote's power button the lights at the bottom turn off.  If you use the Wii's power button they don't seem to.  While this might not effect anything, if it makes you feel better at night.

Just remember, there is a lot of stuff going on in that remote.  It's running bluetooth, it's managing 3 motion detection systems, computing basic triangulation, powering a speaker, and vibration.  

The batteries it came with lasted about 27 hours of use (mostly Zelda).  That's around the numbers I've been getting from others.  If you're in that ballpark I'd say its just time to buy rechargeables.  Sure it says not to, but does my digital camera and I've noticed no ill effects.

[MorningStar]

Wow, I feel stupid. I just added how long I've played the Wii and I have a total play time of 33.75 hours. I guess those suckers lasted much longer than I thought, heh...

[Arbok]

If battery power is a must for you, some other things to keep in mind is that turning down (or off) the volume on the remote and turning off the rumble feature will greatly extend the battery life. However, if that's worth it or not is up to you.

Personally, for Zelda and Wii Sports, I keep rumble on, but with a game like Marvel Ultimate Alliance I felt that it went off way too much so I just switched it off there.

[31 Flavas]

Edit: Ahh... Arbok posted first....

[KendoKai]

I think I read somewhere that somehow th econsole turns the remotes off when the console is turned off...

I swear i read that, but i cant remember for the life of me where it was...


something to do with the console being switched to off makes the controllers turn off to safe battery life...

Alternatively, remove the batteries when you've done playing and put themback in when you want to start again? or buy rechargables

[NeoThunder]

I bought a 4 pack plus charger of rechargables (2000 milliamp) for about $10, thats HALF as much as a 360 plug and play charge kit.....
Just buy some rechargeables and have it done with....they only take 4 hours to charge anyway.

[Sabe002]

With the Wavebird the Nintendo web site said it is okay to use alkaline rechargables, does anyone know what they say about the Remote? Are alkaline rechagables okay? or are NiMH better?
Thanks!

[UltimatePartyBear]

The manual says not to use rechargeable batteries.  My guess is that the circuitry is not designed for them.  The home menu displays the status of each remote's batteries, but rechargeable batteries work differently enough from alkaline batteries that their remaining charge could be misreported.  You'll still know when it's time to replace them because the Wii will pause and tell you it's lost contact with the remote.  It's also possible that the remote could ruin NiMH batteries if it's not designed to use them.  The following is from the Wikipedia article on NiMH batteries:

Quote
Care must also be taken during discharge to ensure that one or more cells in a series-connected battery pack, like the common arrangement of four AA cells in series in a digital camera, do not become completely discharged and go into polarity reversal. Cells are never absolutely identical, and inevitably one will be completely discharged before the others. When this happens, the "good" cells will start to "drive" the discharged cell in reverse, which can cause permanent damage to that cell. Some cameras, GPS receivers and PDAs detect the safe end-of-discharge voltage of the series cells and shut themselves down, but devices like flashlights and some toys do not. Once noticeable dimming or slowing of the device is noticed, it should be turned off immediately to avoid polarity reversal. A single cell driving a load won't suffer from polarity reversal, because there are no other cells to reverse-charge it when it becomes discharged.

[Nick DiMola]

The one thing I can say about NiMH batteries is that the Wii doesn't report back to you correctly on the charge of the batteries. After fully charging mine, I put them in the Wiimote and it was registering as 3/4 to 1/2 power on a few different checks. Not sure whether this is going to be a problem, but there is no way I am buying assloads of non-rechargeable batteries to play the Wii. I really wish Nintendo would've devised some method for charging that did not involve me doing guesswork with the battery situation. If they would gave us a rechargeable battery pack in each Wiimote and the ability to charge with a wire or a docking station, alot of people would've been much happier.

[JonLeung]

Oh, great, and I just bought a slew of Ni-MH batteries.

What about Ni-Cd?  I got a few of those lying around.  Supposedly they don't last as long as Ni-MH.  But if they don't recommend rechargeables at all...

Then again Nintendo may just be covering their butts in the possibility (however small) that rechargeable batteries might get messed up in the Wii Remote.  For example, supposedly the GameCube instruction manual suggests opening the lid before removing the disc and then powering down...something about how it's better for the disc-spinning motor to wind down on its own while the power's still on for a more controlled stop or whatever.  And they've had those health and safety warnings for a hile now, even back in the Super NES days (at least as far as I can remember) there were warnings about the possibility of some people experiencing seizures due to games.  They want to cover their butts, and if rechargeables have the potential to cause damage or be damaged or simply not be as good as regular unrechargeables, then that explains why they say that.  But it'll kill my wallet to have to keep buying new batteries.  

[Sabe002]

I remember the WaveBird booklet said not to use rechargable batteries, but in the FAQS on Nintendo's web site said it is okay to use rechargeables and they said what kind to use. I would look on Nintendo's page, but I work at a school and the filter does not let me access Nintendo's web page. I will try to email them when I get home.

[segagamer12]

I already did the math, and if you buy 4 double AA batteries a week at 3.00 a pack (which is abalpark figure they range in rpcies shopa roudn I guess) yo are spending 1.50 a week if they last that long, as thats what I been getting out of mine.


Once you do that and you add it up tot he cost of the Wii you willhave paid the same 600.00 for getting a PS3 in five years. You could always shop costco/sams club and get them in bulk really cheap. Thats what I plan on doing cuz I garuntee if the manual says dont use them and your remote effs up Nintendo warranty wont cover it.


 

[UltimatePartyBear]

I didn't mean to sound so negative, but the positive aspects of rechargeable batteries are obvious enough that I didn't see the need to offer a counterpoint.  If it turns out that the remotes kill your NiMH batteries, just keep track of how long you use them and swap them before they fully discharge.  I've never heard of a memory effect problem with NiMH batteries, so that shouldn't cause a problem.

NiCd batteries actually benefit from complete discharges.  Their status will probably still be misreported, though.

[Sabe002]

PartyBear, what batteries do you use?  

[UltimatePartyBear]

At the moment, I'm looking at my options while I use up a box of ordinary alkaline batteries that I've had gathering dust for over a year.  I'll probably go with some high capacity NiMH batteries unless people start reporting problems, which should turn up soon if they actually exist.

Edit:  Looky what I found on the Wii support site:

Quote
If you are using rechargeable batteries, the only type of battery recommended are Nickel Metal Hydride batteries. When it comes to using rechargeable batteries, you must follow manufacturer guidelines for safety and proper usage. Failure to do so could cause damage to the Wii Remote and void the warranty.

 

[Ghisy]

NiMh is the ones I was planning on getting.
Now I'm on the fence: should I?

[JonLeung]

Oh, thank goodness.  I'd always used Ni-Cd in everything else and when my parents (yes, I still live at home, and yes, they buy a lot of stuff that I need since they have more free time than I do, and yes, I'm spoiled) came home with a couple packages of Ni-MH batteries I thought they made an error.  But my charger can handle both Ni-Cd and Ni-MH and now it's good news to hear that Ni-MH are okay.

I wonder what the secret of Ni-MH is that makes it so much better than Ni-Cd?