Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Stays On With Rechargeable Batteries

I bought the Xbox 360 premium package that came with a wireless controller. That same day, I bought a second wireless controller so Jenn could play. The controllers come with battery packs that take two AA batteries.

The batteries last for several hours, but of course, I was in love with the new gadget and played until the batteries ran out. That's when I saw the rechargeable battery packs and the quick charge kit, which I also bought.

Something I noticed, though: When the AA battery packs were in, the controllers both behaved as expected. When the rechargeable battery packs were in, the controller that came with the Xbox 360 would turn off fine, but the controller I bought later would stay on - one of the LEDs around the Xbox Guide button would stay on faintly. Sometimes I could remove the battery pack and put it back in and the light would go off, but later it would turn right back on.

That worried me - if the controller won't turn off, it's going to just eat my batteries and I'll be constantly charging just to stay ahead.

I called Microsoft support about it this morning and it turns out this is a known issue. Some controllers just leave one of the LEDs faintly on. They claim it won't affect your battery life and you should just ignore the light being on - as long as the controller functions properly otherwise, the light being on shouldn't be a worry.

I don't see that documented anywhere. I found a forum where other people are having the issue and it sounds like it's not just me.

Anyway, if it's happening to you, Microsoft says it's a known issue and it's nothing to worry about.

Print | posted @ Thursday, May 11, 2006 8:34 AM

Comments on this entry:

Gravatar # Re: Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Stays On With Rechargeable Batteries
by KlintorHignaki at 5/11/2006 8:03 PM

(Copied from my post at http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=463170&st=30&gopid=3404945&#entry3404945 )

Okay, I've done some "tests" with the controller. Damn, it's finally done; it took about a month to do.

The test was done twice, with one 4-hour play session per day with the controller not being used in-between. On the weekends, the controllers got much more playtime, but it varied a little (4-12 hours). Even with variations, all times were recorded so I could take the measurements. I played mainly Geometry Wars, Marble Blast Ultra, and let my mother play Bejeweled and Hexic, so there was little to no rumble used. The hour mark was an average between the two tests for each controller.

For normal play on the "non-defective" (no green light when off) controller with AA batteries, I got about 35 hours of play.

With rechargeable batteries on the same controller (doesn't have the light problem), I get about 28 hours.

With rechargeable batteries on the controller WITH the light problem, I get 15 hours of playtime.

**For the record, I own four wireless controllers. Two that I bought recently that are "fine" (no light problem), and two that have the problem. One of the controllers WITH the problem has quadrant 1 stay dimly lit, and the other has quadrant 2 stay dimly lit AND has quadrant 4 stay somewhat lit (brighter than Q2). I used the controller that only has Q1 stay lit, so the other one may be even worse. I may do another test on the second problem controller if people want me to*****
Gravatar # re: Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Stays On With Rechargeable Batteries
by Mike at 11/14/2007 6:41 PM

So... that means its bad... ive been taking the battery pack out while im not using it... i have a set up so that the controller is right next to my bed facing outward so i wake up in the middle of the night with green lights pointed at me so i have to take the batteries out just to take a good night sleep
Gravatar # re: Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Stays On With Rechargeable Batteries
by Travis Illig at 11/15/2007 7:39 AM

I just use the rechargeable batteries and take the battery pack off when I'm done playing and stick it back on the charger. The charger's right next to where I keep the controllers, so it's really convenient. It also bypasses the issue altogether - no controller ever has its batteries left in.
Gravatar # re: Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Stays On With Rechargeable Batteries
by Eezipeezi at 5/18/2008 11:34 AM

How do you remove the wire from the handset when not charging? Mine just refuses to budge!!!
Gravatar # re: Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Stays On With Rechargeable Batteries
by Travis Illig at 5/19/2008 7:41 AM

Use the quick charge kit (as mentioned in the post), not the play-and-charge cable. The quick charge kit is a standalone charger you plug the batteries into and doesn't connect to the controller.

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