Controller Battery Woes

I've been having issues with my controller for about 3 months now. Every time I play, the batteries are "dead." However, when I put brand spanking new batteries in the controller, the 360 Dashboard tells me that they are only half full. In fact, i do not believe it EVER says that ANY of my batteries are anything but half full. On top of it all, any time that the controller vibrates, the ring of lights on the controller flashes to indicate low batteries, then the controller dies. Is there anything I can do to fix this? I am a college student and can't really afford to buy a new controller at the moment, nor can I afford to keep buying AA batteries every few days...

Thanks; I appreciate any help.

Joey Bickerstaff

As a fellow University student, I share your concern of a strict (well, limited) budget. I can offer a few things that won't "break the bank."

• Try rechargeable batteries. If you aren't getting full worth out of the current type, you may want to look into this.
  
  • Approximately $15 w/ charger
• Try different brand of batteries. Some batteries that sit on the shelf over periods of time are known to decrease in capacity. Try buying newly manufactured batteries (if it has a "packaged on" date) and a well-known brand such as Duracell.
  • Approximately $10
• Buy a new controller and test to see if the batteries are not working; make sure store has liberal return policy. In order to isolate the problem to your wireless controller, you may want to test it with a new one. If the problem remains the same, probably the battery is at fault. If not, consider keeping the controller.
  • Approximately $40-$50
• Buy a wired controller. No batteries, and lighter. My personal recommendation.
  
  • Approximately $35-$40 (you can find it even cheaper, too)

To people telling him to get rechargeable batteries: He said he put new batteries in his controller, and it didn't make any difference. How the hell are rechargeable batteries going to make things better?

I had a controller once that always showed one bar, even with new batteries. The little light pattern that indicates low batteries would always be running. The batteries would last a while, but I never knew when they were actually running low, which was annoying. I exchanged that controller for a new one at the store from which I bought it, Wal-mart, I think. It sounds to me as if the fault is with your controller, not your batteries. If you can't afford a new one, I'd try what I did: See if the store will give you an exchange.

To people telling him to get rechargeable batteries: He said he put new batteries in his controller, and it didn't make any difference. How the hell are rechargeable batteries going to make things better?

I had a controller once that always showed one bar, even with new batteries. The little light pattern that indicates low batteries would always be running. The batteries would last a while, but I never knew when they were actually running low, which was annoying. I exchanged that controller for a new one at the store from which I bought it, Wal-mart, I think. It sounds to me as if the fault is with your controller, not your batteries. If you can't afford a new one, I'd try what I did: See if the store will give you an exchange.

Palantas

Yes,that is what I've been thinking. That perhaps the controller itself is broken. I figured that there might be a short somewhere in the controller (especially since it konks out every time it vibrates). The problem is, my controller came with my xbox when I first bought it... I don't think that I will be able to get any sort of exchange. But, hey, it's worth trying. :-)

Well if he has rechargeable batteries he can have 2 sets one set charging while he uses the other set that are at full power. You put those batteries in and it will say you have half power so if you do need a battery change you just swap em' out for the other set. This way you don't have to keep on buying new packs of batteries. I don't see how you did not understand that.....Dawq902

That's why I suggested it, too. In the long run, it'll probably be cheaper (if you're going through new batteries that fast).

Plus, realistically speaking, you may not get an exchange since the item is about 3 months old (not to mention it's within a package, not a standalone accessory). That's why I didn't mention it. Hey, it's amazing if you can get it done and I highly suggest doing it -- but I'm never lucky enough for it to happen.

You can get a used wired controller for about $20, like my friend who bought it privately. Works great, looks new, and definitely economical.