wii remote battery indicator

[pontifex]

my battery indicator shows my batteries are half full, even if i just took them out of the charger. it does go lower than 2 bars if the battery is getting low but never shows more than half. anyone else see this problem?

 

[mugs]

Your charger may not charge your batteries all the way? See what alkalines do.

 

[Ika]

Are you using rechargeable NiMH batteries? I'm betting the battery indicator is designed for alkalines. NiMH batteries behave differently from alkaline batteries voltage-wise. This can be seen in how your battery meter works.

More in-depth - Most NiMH AA batteries, if you look, are rated for 1.2 volts. Standard alkalines, on the other hand, are rated for 1.5 volts. However, the difference between alkalines and NiMHs is that over the lifespan of alkalines, the voltage will slowly drop in a linear pattern (meaning for every x hours of useage, it will drop x volts). NiMHs, however, keep a steady voltage output until they have very little capacity left, where they will rapidly lose voltage until they run out of charge.

 

[pontifex]

yes, nimh
it says they are charged all the way. its a maha charger...i'm pretty sure its made for nimh batteries

 

[palswim]

I've had the same issues. In the Wii manual and in my Wii remote instructions, it says to not use NiMH batteries, but I did read that Nintendo finally approved them. So, I think the batteries are better than the Wiimote indicates, but it also may not use them efficiently.

 

[TheRyuu]

Originally posted by: pontifex
yes, nimh
it says they are charged all the way. its a maha charger...i'm pretty sure its made for nimh batteries

They run at a lower voltage then your alkaline batteries.
What is maha?
Link?
And don't be "pretty sure." Although I doubt the batteries will explode or anything, NiMH batteries run at different voltages then normal alkaline batteries do.

Alkaline batteries run at 1.5v.

NiMH run at 1.2v.

The checker probably uses the voltage to check it since thats what decreases over time.
I wouldn't worry about it though. Just use the batteries as normal and recharge them when they run out.
(thats the beauty of NiMH batteries. Although the voltage is lower, you can recharge them like 1000+ times).

The charger I really like is the Energizer 15 minute one. Charges ANY type of NiMH batter, FAST. Although this does decrease the life of the battery, NiMH batteries take a long time to charge (with my other one) and I like the speed.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: wizboy11

Originally posted by: pontifex
yes, nimh
it says they are charged all the way. its a maha charger...i'm pretty sure its made for nimh batteries

They run at a lower voltage then your alkaline batteries.
What is maha?
Link?
And don't be "pretty sure." Although I doubt the batteries will explode or anything, NiMH batteries run at different voltages then normal alkaline batteries do.

Alkaline batteries run at 1.5v.

NiMH run at 1.2v.

The checker probably uses the voltage to check it since thats what decreases over time.
I wouldn't worry about it though. Just use the batteries as normal and recharge them when they run out.
(thats the beauty of NiMH batteries. Although the voltage is lower, you can recharge them like 1000+ times).

The charger I really like is the Energizer 15 minute one. Charges ANY type of NiMH batter, FAST. Although this does decrease the life of the battery, NiMH batteries take a long time to charge (with my other one) and I like the speed.

my charger

 

[Ika]

Maha is a great battery company, so no real worries there.

There's nothing wrong with your batteries or your remote, it just doesn't "know" you're using NiMH batteries. Don't worry about it.