How do you power your Xbox wireless controller?

[dipsylalapo Supervisor]

I've only just realised that they discontinued their rechargeable battery packs and it sucks because over the last few weeks, three of mine have stopped holding charge :(

So what are the alternatives? And what do you guys prefer?

I own the play and charge kit and the quick charge kit, so was hoping for some recommendations of products that would work with these :p

[Ryoken]

Umm.. what ?

I see them on Amazon and other places for sale.. [ http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Rechargeable-Controller-Battery-Black/dp/B000OYIVGM ]

I use that, or keep it wired.. I have a USB extension cable that means I can reach anywhere in my room that I would be interested in playing from..

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

I've always used 'Play and Charge' kits. However, I haven't had much success with third party charging cables. The last one I used caused a short-circuit. The Battery was fine though. ... Can't really get that wrong. Just a couple of rechargeable AA's in a pack.

In short, you can use any controller charging cable with any rechargeable battery pack.

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

The USB cable from the play and charge kit at the moment, the battery's are useless :/ I replaced 3 of mine with official battery packs and all but 1 of the battrey packs stopped holding charge again after 6 months...

I'm tempted to just buy some good rechargeable batteries.

[dipsylalapo Supervisor]

Umm.. what ?

I see them on Amazon and other places for sale.. [ http://www.amazon.co...k/dp/B000OYIVGM ]

I use that, or keep it wired.. I have a USB extension cable that means I can reach anywhere in my room that I would be interested in playing from..

Ah not here in the UK, the only one's that I've ever managed to find are either Used, third party or new but way over priced.

I've always used 'Play and Charge' kits. However, I haven't had much success with third party charging cables. The last one I used caused a short-circuit. The Battery was fine though. ... Can't really get that wrong. Just a couple of rechargeable AA's in a pack.

In short, you can use any controller charging cable with any rechargeable battery pack.

Ah so I can buy a few rechargeable batteries and use them with my own play and charge kit? Sweet

[+virtorio MVC]

I use the Play and Charge cable. The three batteries I currently own last between 0 and 10 minutes.

[+jamesyfx Subscriber²]

Ah so I can buy a few rechargeable batteries and use them with my own play and charge kit? Sweet

Well, I'm not so sure about just throwing in rechargeable batteries by themselves. I was referring to third party battery packs. There is a contact on the back of the controller that these battery packs interface with... I think that's where the connector at the top of the controller charges the battery packs.

[John.D]

I use normal rechargeable batteries

[articuno1au]

Everready makes an XBox recharging dock with their own battery packs.

I have a friend who uses them for his system and they seem to do quite well >.<

[Vandalsquad]

Normal cheap ass batteries.. 20 for a couple of bucks. 2 batteries last over half a year for me.

[Lingwo]

I just use a Play and Charge kit on my already shot battery pack. Sometimes i'll get an hour out of them. I don't sit that far away from the TV, so a cable doesn't really bother me.

[Dotdot]

Maplin 100 battery pack and I just take them from that. Only swapped em once this year tho....

[spacer]

From when I bought my xbox (2006) to probably last year or so, I used the play-and-charge kit. But the battery stopped holding a charge. Since then, I've used normal rechargeable batteries. I bought a 4 pack and I already had a charger. So when 2 die, I switch the ones in the charger for the ones in the controller, and repeat. 10 bucks for 4 batteries has lasted me plenty long enough already and they don't seem to be losing charge. So I think it's more cost effective than the official p/c kit.

[philcruicks]

Play and Charge kits all the way, but only official MS ones. I've got 2 official both are brilliant still working strong after years, got 2 un-official and they're S**T, one holds no charge at all, the other about 2 mins...

The key as with most batteries is to not charge them when they're half charged.

[Snoopy2005uk]

I bought 4 Duracell rechargeable batterys so I can charge 2 as I use 2. Seems to work for me. Failiing that I use my wired pad.

[M_Lyons10]

Play and charge was an amazing design. I thought the cable came with the battery pack? It works great though.

[Dan~]

I had one, which kept loosing it's charge after 5-6 months.

Emailed Microsoft and they sent me a replacement free :) If you've got one, ring Microsoft there very good for returns :D

I had a old keyboard and broken one of the legs, I rang Microsoft up to see if I could get a replacement leg and they sent me a brand new keyboard :)

[BGM]

i've got three rechargeable battery packs and i keep one in the battery charge stand and just rotate it out when one of the other two controllers needs charging ;)

simples.

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

Official Recharge pack w/ Charging station.

Periodically they seemed to not hold a charge, then I let it discharge completely with use on the controller, then recharge it using usb cable to controller which fixes that for a while.

I suspect it's due to the base doing a rapid charge, and the usb cable does trickle charge.

[dipsylalapo Supervisor]

It seems that loads of folk use the battery packs, why did they get rid of them :(

Think that I may go down the path of buying myself some rechargeable batteries and stick with those as long as possible. Shame.

[Aergan]

Bought a Silver limited edition wireless controller with the transforming D-Pad and higher rated play & charge kit.

Like it so much, bought another one.

[+Ryster Subscriber²]

I use a Venom Twin Charging dock that you sit two controllers on. It comes with it's own re-chargeable batteries with special connectors on the back that connect to the dock. The batteries work quite well, hold their charge for ages... several days at least at a couple of hours a day (dunno really as I dock them controllers most of the time).

http://www.amazon.co...k/dp/B00284AI3K

?12.29 for the dock AND two re-chargeable battery packs.

[ZakO]

Poundland batteries - 20 for ?1. Get about 120 hours gameplay (~ a years worth for me) for ?1.

[123456789A]

Costco batteries, 48 for $5.

[spike21]

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Rechargeable-Controller-Battery-Black/dp/B000OYIVGM