How do you manage your game controller batteries?

[AstroManLuca]

I have an Xbox 360 and each of my controllers has a rechargeable battery pack. I have one play and charge cable and a 2-battery charging station so I pretty much always have four full batteries ready to go. My Rock Band instruments are still on their included AAs, which have lasted so long I'll probably just buy more disposable AAs to replace them.

Only thing is, four rechargeable Xbox 360 batteries = $44. Yes, one of them came with one of the controllers and another came with my charging station, but it's still expensive, so I know why some people don't get them. Also some people have problems with them dying. Maybe I'm just lucky because I've had all of my controllers for six months to a year and none of the batteries have had problems.

My friends, on the other hand, can't keep track of their batteries to save their life. One bought an off-brand charging station in order to save $5, and only one of the two charging ports worked and eventually even that broke, so he bought another off-brand charging station which also doesn't work. Whenever I visit him I bring enough controllers for everyone because he usually has either 1 or 0 working controllers at any given time. Another friend is a little better about it but still doesn't seem to put any effort into it. He pretty much just plays with the play/charge cable on 100% of the time. Personally I think that's missing the point of using a wireless controller.

 

[mugs]

AA NiMh cells are the way to go for Xbox 360. Though I personally have the MS ripoff batteries because one came with my Costco bundle.

 

[bdubyah]

I'm one of those with like 3 MS batteries that won't hold a charge for longer than an hour. I keep them on the charging station in case I need them or if friends come over. I personally use rechargeable batteries for my stuff. I have the cheaper LaCrosse charger and 4 Sanyo Eneloops. I also just ordered 8 Powerex batteries to see how they are.

 

[Queasy]

I'm stuck in the middle with batteries. I've got 3 rechargeable 360 batteries and now 5 controllers. One of the batteries I got as part of a Sam's bundle at launch. The other two I bought because a Nyko charging station was on sale and it kept people in my house from raiding my controller batteries. At the time I only had three controllers but I later added a fourth and now a fifth with the second console but haven't gotten any more rechargeable 360 batteries.

All the Wii remotes are using rechargeable AAs though.

 

[oznerol]

I take it you use multiple controllers often?

I have 2 360 controllers - one is still on the 2 AAs that came with it and gets used sparingly whenever someone wants to play multiplayer. For my primary one, I have the MS rechargeable and the USB cable. I will use it until it dies, and when it does, I'll just connect the USB cable.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: ducci
I take it you use multiple controllers often?

I have 2 360 controllers - one is still on the 2 AAs that came with it and gets used sparingly whenever someone wants to play multiplayer. For my primary one, I have the MS rechargeable and the USB cable. I will use it until it dies, and when it does, I'll just connect the USB cable.

Yes. I have 2+ in use as often as I have just one on at a time. Though recently I haven't been using the controllers as much since I've been playing lots of Rock Band.

I might start picking up Eneloops to replace the battery packs if/when two or more of them die. I recall when I first got my 360, the alkaline AAs that came with it lasted a lot longer than the battery packs do. Battery packs might do 10-15 hours, while the AAs were good for 20-30. It's hard to get a sense of it since I often recharge the packs if I use them a few days in a row.

 

[cyphilis]

I just buy regular ole Duracell batteries. I play probably 5-6 days a week, about 4 hours at a time and the batteries last me anywhere from 2-3 weeks on average.

 

[Kabob]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I might start picking up Eneloops to replace the battery packs if/when two or more of them die. I recall when I first got my 360, the alkaline AAs that came with it lasted a lot longer than the battery packs do. Battery packs might do 10-15 hours, while the AAs were good for 20-30. It's hard to get a sense of it since I often recharge the packs if I use them a few days in a row.

This is what you want. I picked up a pack of Eneloops off of Amazon and I have been thoroughly impressed. If I had to guess I'd say they last in the neighborhood of 25-30 hours and recharge in 2-3 hours. I bought the recharger w/4 batteries + another pack of 4 AA's. Four for the Wii remotes, two for my 360 controller, and two as my "go to" in case a pair dies or I need to use my other 360 controller. You can recharge them in pairs or fours and if you just let them sit in a controller they lose almost no charge.

 

[Baked]

PS3 controller FTW? I just charge it for a couple of hours and it's good to go again. I don't game that much, so it all works out.

 

[Deeko]

I have a PS3, I don't have that problem. The battery lasts a really long time, too. I just plug it in every now and then and its good to go.

 

[Q]

Quick charge kit

 

[ubercaffeinated]

2 sets of eneloop kits from costco. winnar.

 

[bdubyah]

My PS3 controller doesn't seem to last very long. And what the hell is up with the cable that comes with it? Do they expect me to sit in the floor if I ever need to charge it while playing? It's like 3 feet long. At least the play'n'charge cable for my 360 is around 6 feet long. Luckily I had one like it from an MP3 player or something that was a bit longer and reached just far enough.

 

[Kabob]

Originally posted by: Quintox
Quick charge kit

I got one (it was actually the play and charge). Worked great for about a year and a half and the amount of time it works goes down and down. At first it was about 30 hours, now it's about 4-5. I gave it to a friend.

 

[R Nilla]

I always buy the largest pack of Rayovak AA batteries I can find. They last a long time and are generally pretty cheap.

I've thought about using rechargable AAs many times but I just end up getting standard AAs. They are cheaper up front and I don't want to waste time or money exploring rechargeable solutions.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Baked
PS3 controller FTW? I just charge it for a couple of hours and it's good to go again. I don't game that much, so it all works out.

Replaceable batteries have advantages. If I forget to charge my PS3 controller and it dies while I'm playing, I have to play with it plugged in. When that happens with my Xbox controllers I just switch out the battery. The PS3 only charges controllers when it's turned on, so if I want to charge my controllers with the PS3 turned off I have to plug them into my computer. Personally, I like having the ability to change out the battery whenever I need to.

 

[Thraxen]

For the PS3 I have a charging station and several controllers. Generally all the controllers aren't being used at once so if one happens to die during play I just use a different one.

For everything else I've switched to Eneloops. I have a drawer with maybe a dozen spare charged Eneloops. So when a controller dies I just grab a couple out of the drawer, pop them into the controller, and the depleted batteries go into the charger to later be placed into the drawer after being fully charged.

 

[nanobreath]

I prefer seperate rechargable batteries for the sole reason I can switch them out for new ones as soon as they lose their charge instead of having to tether myself to the console. On solo games I'm ususally sitting well out of reach of any cabled controller, walking around etc. If I have to plug in to charge while playing I'll go do something else for awhile and come back later. Wireless has spoiled me. I played my N64 the other day and the length on those cords is PITIFULL.

 

[Baked]

I don't game 12 hours straight like some people. I just do an hour or two here and there. If the low battery warning comes on, I just charge the controller through the computer and play another day. /shrug There are always other things to do besides gaming on the console.

 

[R Nilla]

Originally posted by: Baked
There are always other things to do besides gaming on the console.

Blasphemy!

 

[Chriscross3234]

I barely game on my Xbox, however, I do have two controllers so I decided to buy some rechargable batteries and a recharger. For $30 at Target, I got an neat, compact Enegizer Recharger with 6 AA batteries and 2 AAA batteries. I keep 4 in the controllers and I always have 2 sitting in the recharger (it automatically turns off when batteries are fully charged) just in case I start to get the battery low signal. I use the 2 AAA batteries for my tv's remote control. With this setup, I am pretty much set, and it was totally worth the $30.

Yeah Nanobreath, wireless is such a luxury now. It's a pita when I go back and play on my playstation with annoying wired controllers and I am forced to sit freaking 6 feet from my TV. Perhaps I should invest in a wireless PS1 controller, if there are any...

 

[SneakyStuff]

Rayovac AA at Walmart, $5 for 12 and they last me awhile since I don't play for extended periods.

 

[Kabob]

Originally posted by: Baked
I don't game 12 hours straight like some people. I just do an hour or two here and there. If the low battery warning comes on, I just charge the controller through the computer and play another day. /shrug There are always other things to do besides gaming on the console.

And what if it just so happens to be a day that you really DO want to play a bit? It may never happen for you, but I'd hate to finally get some awesome game, pop it in only to find that your controllers don't work.

OK, so in the extreme case you can sit 3 feet away and play but still...I like having other options.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Baked
I don't game 12 hours straight like some people. I just do an hour or two here and there. If the low battery warning comes on, I just charge the controller through the computer and play another day. /shrug There are always other things to do besides gaming on the console.

Yeah I had a feeling people would come up with absurd justifications... all I'm saying is that both approaches have their advantages and disadvantages. Never being forced to choose between playing with a cord plugged in or not playing at all is an advantage to replaceable batteries.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: SneakyStuff
Rayovac AA at Walmart, $5 for 12 and they last me awhile since I don't play for extended periods.

If you're going to get alkaline batteries, get Costco's Kirkland brand. 48 for like $12. Candlepowerforums.com tested them to be as good as Duracell.