I'm Losing Power Cap'n!!
OK, I’ve got a bone to pick with the mighty Microsoft regarding those handy-dandy rechargeable battery packs for the 360 wireless controllers. Perhaps some of you have had the same problem? My battery packs have decided they do not want to charge anymore. When I plug the “Play & Charge” cord into the controller, no light (green or red) comes on. And my final battery pack, out of the four I have, has not been able to charge and will eventually die, just like the other three.
Have any of you ever had this problem? If so, how did you resolve it? I sent an email to their tech support, but have yet to receive a response. At least I can take comfort in the fact that the 360’s “Play & Charge” cord is much longer than the PS3’s…so I can still sit comfortably on my couch until the issue gets resolved.
Make the jump to see the video about the power cords and leave a message!
Super Timsy
Posted to Video Games on 6 December 2006
· Comments (15)
Other stuff like this: batteries, play and charge, ps3, rechargeable, wireless controllers, xbox 360
Name: Dave
Another quality Microsoft product. How does this company command so much market share again?
It’s true, Spaz. One play-n-charge kit being defective constitutes a sarcastic comment about how everything they make breaks, and means that everything they make just plain sucks.
Personally I haven’t had any issues with mine.
No problems with mine either. But the batteries are Nickel Cadmium and develop a “memory” if charged when other than entirely drained, and will cease to charge fully. Also, this type of battery can only be charged a finite number of times, they simply don’t last forever (not that any rechargeable batteries do).
the boyfriend and i have not had any problems yet, and we have 3 of the rechargeable batteries. (we’ve had them since april)
wish i could help.
This is why I dislike wireless controllers in general. I never have to worry about my DualShock’s battery dying and not charging because, well, it doesn’t have one. Assuming I ever buy a 360, I’ll be using the wired controllers for it, methinks.
Nate – sorry if my sarcasm was a little thick, but the fail rate of the 360 is atrocious. I’ve had numerous friends with broken or inoperable 360’s (some repeatedly), so this isn’t just a random sarcastic comment damning a company based on one battery charger. Peace!
Let me amend, the chemistry is actually Nickel Hydride which is very similiar to NiCd, but friendlier to the environment (since Cadmium is toxic). These are currently the most widely utilized rechargeable batteries on the market and a little care in use goes a long way toward extending their lifespan.
Perhaps I should have always drained them and THEN recharged them? I usually plugged them in after I finished whatever I was doing….
Mine P&C kit don’t work anymore. I thought I had simply damaged it while moving house, but this now seems like a common problem. However its not the battery packs. I bought a Charge dock thingy and that works fine.
I honestly think its something to do with the 360s USB power output.
When my controller indicates that the battery pack is dying, I just snap it off and snap it back on. The power gauge will indicate full for a short time and quickly drain. You can sometimes do that a couple times and then when you recharge it it will hold the charge way longer. A friend’s battery pack wouldn’t charge more than a smidge and I just repeatedly used this technique and it started working again.
Maybe that could work for you?
Pika, you reminded me of something that happend shortly after I got my 360 on launch day…I had to send it in cause of a faulty USB port on the back that was not letting the wireless adaptor work. Perhaps it could be the same problem? Afterall, I’ve only had these batteries since launch a year ago.
It could be related to that, but if its happening in every USB port on your 360, its either the cable itself has become damaged, or the port aint dishing out enough power. (My 360 won’t even boot with the Play and Charge kit plugged in).
Seriously doubt its your batteries though, try getting hold of the Quick Charge kit. (At the very least, it comes with a new battery for when your current one dies ;) )
I’m with Pika. My Play & Charge kit “works,” and I’ve never had your battery issues (poor Timsy!), but the P&C kit never seemed to charge up my controllers. The charge dock seems awesome so far: I always just pop my battery when I’m done playing and leave it in the dock, and since the dock holds two I’ve always got at least one fully-charged bat around, usually two. A dedicated charger seems much more likely to do a good job than a USB connection drawing power from (and through) the Xbox, and which is also powering the controller as you play. I know that’s the idea, but still. Charge Dock!
If you keep it plugged in too long, the battery will die. Thats what many others seem to be saying, but in long paragraphs.
Let the battery die out before using the Play and Charge kit.
I just bought a set of Energizer rechargeable AA’s and a recharger for them. These have worked very well in my WaveBird, and they worked just fine in my 360. And if my mouse dies, I can pillage the batteries from my game systems. :) Portability = +1 diggs.