If all the
extra accessories aren't making your Wii
collection a
mess, all the AA batteries you've thrown out have at least caused a lump in a landfill. To help out in the battery department, Sanyo has come up with the Eneloop charging station complete with a battery pack replacement pack for your Wii remote and a charging base that can support as many as four controllers at once. Remotes charge in a respectable 220 minutes and Eneloop will even charge sequentially so you don't have to wait an extra couple hours for your next Smash Bros fix. Available for $73 as an import item, but we wouldn't be surprised if this showed up on our shores for powerless gamers this fall.
UPDATE: Confused about why this is important? The new recharger uses a contact-free electromagnetic system so you don't need to remove your battery pack. Oh - it's also the first Nintendo-licensed recharger.
[Via
Akihabara News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ed @ Jul 24th 2008 8:39AM
I use the eneloop AAs in my wiimotes, and they hold their charge a lot longer than the duracell rechargeables that they replaced.
Interesting Point.. @ Jul 24th 2008 8:48AM
Maybe they didn't know that..
Ignatius @ Jul 24th 2008 8:58AM
Eneloops are _unbelievably awesome.
I bought a 4-pack of AAAs at CC for less than $4. I put them in my Logitech Harmony 550, and according to a fairly accurate review, the Duracells it came with only lasted a week with use. I've had them in there for nearly 8 weeks now and STILL they're not dead!
I absolutely love these batteries.
AJ in the East Bay @ Jul 24th 2008 10:21AM
I have Eneloop and RayOVac Hybrid AAs. They are both awesome. You can charge and store the batteries and they will hold the charge for months.
Jason @ Jul 24th 2008 10:41AM
x10 on the Eneloops! We bought two kits that came with 8 each of AA and AAA, along with C and D size cases to fit the AA batteries (pretty cool IMHO) and yeah, these things rock. They charge fairly quickly, and last a looong time! Got them packed into our Wiimotes and a few other gadgets.
I was somewhat skeptical at first when my wife brought them home (I'd expected the Energizer rechargeables), but I'm definitely a fan now.
SuperDre @ Jul 24th 2008 8:39AM
What's so special about this? we had chargers+replacementpacks almost since the release of the Wii...
eric f. @ Jul 24th 2008 8:53AM
It beats the Nyko, because you don't have to peel off the sleeve to charge it.
Rob @ Jul 24th 2008 10:00AM
Maybe with the earlier Nyko's that you had to do that, but the ones I own have the contacts exposed on the back so I just put 'er in the cradle and charge (and it charges on AC as opposed to the Wii's USB port as others have mentioned.)
MBS @ Jul 24th 2008 10:23AM
@Rob: He said peel back the sleeve, not remove the battery pack. A sleeve would cover the contact points on the back so you would have to remove it before charging.
thatrotierkid @ Jul 24th 2008 10:27AM
@MBS
NYKO gives you different covers for the back off the wiimote that allows the contacts on the battery to pass through
http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FAI/VZIZ/FAQDX652/FAIVZIZFAQDX652.MEDIUM.jpg
thatrotierkid @ Jul 24th 2008 10:29AM
o wait i get what your saying, you mean this way you don't have to remove to body glove. by sleeve for some reason i thought you meant the battery cover
ksmoove @ Jul 24th 2008 11:49AM
You won't have to remove the battery pack OR the sleeve. The charger will work through induction charging, therefore no contact points to touch. All you would have to do is just place your remote in the dock and the charging begins.
You also will only need one power supply because you can "daisy chain" multiple docks together.
TavisJohn @ Jul 24th 2008 12:39PM
@thatrotierkid he is not talking about the battery cover, he is talking about the silicone cover that Nintendo gave away free, and now includes with all Wiimotes.
http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/jacket/jacketrequest.jsp
You can replace the battery cover all you want, Silicone does not conduct electricity. So you still need to peel the cover back in order to charge your Wiimote.
thatrotierkid @ Jul 24th 2008 12:48PM
i realized that as soon as i made my first comment. notice the one right below it 2 mins later
TavisJohn @ Jul 24th 2008 2:41PM
Cool! It is easy to miss something. :)
Gav @ Jul 24th 2008 8:41AM
So...?
There have been rechargeable battery packs since the Wii came out, what's so good about these?
tekdroid @ Jul 24th 2008 8:45AM
Hmm. These 'downtime docks' or a regular 4xAA charger with a set of charged batts on standby for a no-downtime 'GAME ON' switcheroo.
I wonder which I will choose...
Freakin Ijit @ Jul 24th 2008 8:54AM
The "coolness/usability factor" for this, though, is that you don't do ANYTHING other than place your remote in the charging station - no need to open it up and remove EITHER dead or rechargeable batteries - the charging is done via broadcast power (Eneloop), not via electrical contacts. No struggle with the jacket, etc.
tekdroid @ Jul 24th 2008 11:20AM
Understood, but who enjoys that when they can't game when they want to?
For the price of these, you can buy:
1) several sets of AA batts and a charger
2) use the same charger to charge batteries for other devices, not just a single device
Downsides (if you want to call it a downside)
1) You take out expired batts. You put in fresh ones. You put expired batts in AA charger while you play - no waiting, no hassle.
I don't see how swapping a set of batteries for another is a hassle compared to having your controllers sit powerless when you want to be playing.
Randy @ Jul 24th 2008 8:47AM
This looks cool b/c I don't have to remove the Wiimote Jacket. Even though I only really need 2, I kinda wish it was bit more compact.
Bob @ Jul 24th 2008 8:51AM
Are you serious Engadget? We bought the NYKO brand battery packs as soon as we got the Wii... Rechargable packs are NOT new news...
Gwyn @ Jul 24th 2008 8:56AM
A few points for the people asking what is so special:
1. The are contactless chargers - click the link to see one without the wiimote, it has no visible contacts.
2. The wiimote can be charged without removing the jacket
3. They charge via AC power, not Wii USB port, and can have up to four units linked in series.
So yes, while there are many other charging docks on the market, these have a few unique selling points that might make them worthwhile.
I have a couple of USB charging docks that I bought in China that do the job, but I'm not 100% happy with them for exactly these reasons. IE- I need to use an alternative back plate to make them work and I can't use jackets because they won't fit in the dock.
d @ Jul 24th 2008 10:16AM
you know, i was confused as too why they pictured it in a sleeve and not just a plain wiimote, but that explains it - the sleeve can be on during charging.
db cooper @ Jul 24th 2008 8:56AM
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Mark S. @ Jul 24th 2008 8:57AM
It's the first I've seen that can charge 4 devices with jackets on. That's why it's newsworthy.
Of course it will be obsolete once MotionPlus hits the market.
h27790.temp @ Jul 24th 2008 9:12AM
I came here to say this.
deyanimay @ Jul 24th 2008 9:17AM
Or you know you could pop it off before charging.
J. Emmett Turner @ Jul 25th 2008 10:11AM
Actually, I've been demanding an inductance charger since day one because I knew that it would be flexible enough for stuff like that. I would make tv charging element slide up in the dock, so it very well might work. That is, if their engineers aren't stupid like the ones I talked to... I contacted OEMs about it back in 2006/2007 and most of them had no idea what I was talking about, even after describing that it was the same technology as an electric rechargeable toothbrush.
John McDole @ Jul 24th 2008 9:15AM
I hate that every picture of the Wii-mote is with that damn condom on.
swingin' dick hero @ Jul 24th 2008 9:41AM
You are a condom.
EndlessMike @ Jul 24th 2008 9:16AM
Or you could just use rechargeable AAs that work in Wiimotes, 360 controllers, TV remotes, digital cameras...should I keep going?
tekdroid @ Jul 24th 2008 11:43AM
Common sense gets low-ranked here.
Somehow it doesn't surprise me. I totally agree.
Mark @ Jul 24th 2008 2:18PM
There actually is a benifit to this charging station. The battery and the station do not need to make actual contact, because it uses a magnetism to charge the battery...kind of like wireless electricity, only it needs to be right in front of the charger.
This means, you can leave the Wii Condom on while you charge. The battery does not have any contacts on the outside.
Does anyone EVER click the Read link?
tekdroid @ Jul 24th 2008 11:11PM
We read the read link. We just don't see it as a real benefit compared to the downsides (cost, downtime, inability to use batts with other devices). Thanks.
Mach @ Jul 24th 2008 9:26AM
wii alcove ®
wii are the Borg. Lower your shields. Resistance is futile
swingin' dick hero @ Jul 24th 2008 9:29AM
Yeah but the cool thing is that these are "contact-less" chargers and draws power through magnetic induction. That is at least news to me in controller cradles. And as many people have said before, this is not a news site, it is a blog. Don't whine.
Kawaiipikachu @ Jul 24th 2008 9:32AM
I don't see why you would need any Wii didacated battery setups just use an ordanary charger & some recharables as i use Energizers ni-mh 1500mah in my Wii Remotes .
While i might trust this one being Sanyo but the others i really not trust too last too long & they even low capacity 800mah for a battery pack munites worth of music :(
Danny Henderson @ Jul 24th 2008 9:53AM
Cool. You don't have to remove the sleeves. One less thing to mess with
Ray Merkler @ Jul 24th 2008 9:55AM
Far better idea: Get a pack of rechargeable batteries and a 15-minute charger.
Dan @ Jul 24th 2008 7:19PM
If you didn't know, 15-minute chargers are bad for the life of your rechargeable batteries....
Jon Doe. @ Jul 24th 2008 9:59AM
umm batteries only end up in landfills if people are so damn lazy as to not take them to any of a bagillion locations that recycle. Hell I think best buy takes used batteries.
AJ in the East Bay @ Jul 24th 2008 10:28AM
Does anyone still use the Wiimote strap anymore? I took those out about a year ago.
bonerama @ Jul 24th 2008 11:19AM
Do you need a separate A/C adapter for each one? That would be annoying.
Foolthrottle @ Jul 24th 2008 12:25PM
OR - you can buy eneloop batteries and swap them out when they're dead. That way you're not killing the planet by charging batteries all the time, buying plastic docks you don't need, and killing your batteries faster through over-charging.
Save your money - buy more games.
Joe H @ Jul 24th 2008 12:43PM
Don't forget that as soon as the WiiMotion Plus is released, these will be worthless. Their main benefit is being able to charge with the remote sleeve attached. The WiiMotion Plus will come with its own extended sleeve and I'd imagine most that use the sleeve will just leave that attached all the time, but I'm pretty sure the extra length will impede this from being able to charge.
Secret Asian Man @ Jul 24th 2008 12:44PM
The vast majority of you people, including the blogger doesn't seem to understand that Sanyo's eneloop batteries, as well as Rayovac's Hybrid rechargeable batteries are superior type of recharg4able batteries.
Reglar rechargeable batteries such as Energizer e2 NiMH and high end ones such as Maha's cannot hold their charge very long. Meaning if you were to charge them on Monday but don't use them at all until Friday, you'll be surprised to find out that they need to be recharged. Why do you think you have to charge them first before you use them even though you just bought them at the store or are not recommended for clocks, smoke detectors, or remotes?
sanyo's eneloop and Rayovac's Hybrid do not have this flaw. They have the same rechargeable capability yet can hold their charge when not in use almost as long as non-rechargeable batteries. They have the best of both worlds with no real flaw except currently, their capacity aren't as high. I believe they top out at 1000 mAH for size AA whereas other rechargeable AA batteries average 1200 mAH and top out at 1600 mAH. That's not a deal breaker to me since they still last a long time in use in my camera. They can be charged in any NiMH chargers.
I personally use only eneloops and Hybrids for ALL my battery needs, even clocks and smoke detectors and remotes. You bet I use it in my Wii Remote. They are all rechargeable and thus reusable for any electronic devices. Environmentally and economically friendly.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jul 24th 2008 1:35PM
There's a zillion of these out there already. Another brand calls them "Hybrio". Sony sells them too, I forget the name. You'll also see them sold as "pre-charged" rechargeables, which they can do since they can sit on the shelf for months and keep their charge.
I generally buy the RayOVacs because they're cheapest.
Anyway, they hold their charge so long you can even use them in TV remotes and such. In anything you don't use every day, you'll probably like them better than regular NiMHs despite the reduced capacity.
Dale @ Jul 24th 2008 12:49PM
@Bob, they're also made by a semi-reputable company. And licensed. Nyko my arse.
Mark @ Jul 24th 2008 1:16PM
So, $73 for a single charger. It takes over 3.5 hours to charge and you only get 6.5 hours of use time. And it charges sequentially, which means one at a time. Awesome.
Anon-e-mouse @ Jul 24th 2008 1:17PM
Have any of your heard about the InCharge? They have it for Wii and Xbox and apparently it charges inductively....? Not really sure how it works, but it could be promising... Here's a link, I'm thinking about getting one, but wanted to see if someone else has used them before. http://www.pcconnection.com/IPA/Shop/Product/Detail.htm?sku=8550189