If you're looking for a cheap, simple way to recharge your Wiimote, it would appear that Psyclone's Nintendo Wii Recharge Station is not it. While it may look like a convenient battery recharging system, its primary function actually seems to be irreversibly destroying Wii controllers. If that's what you're looking for, you could just smash the things with your shoe and save some money.According to most of the Amazon reviewers who turned in low ratings, the thing doesn't know when to stop charging its batteries, causing it to overheat and fry the attached remote. Reports of "incredibly hot" Wiimotes, "burn marks," and "killed Wii Motes" are widespread (among Amazon reviewers), lending us enough reason to avoid the product, especially with non-destructive alternatives on the market.
Amusingly, Amazon sellers seem to be trying to capitalize on the sudden notoriety of the product. Two Marketplace sellers are offering Wii Recharge Stations starting at $174.44.
[Via Game|Life]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-31-2007 @ 2:50PM
troy said...
I got Nyko and it works great, and the awesome new backs for the Wii-Remotes give a better grip. Best all around charger.
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12-31-2007 @ 3:09PM
Garst said...
I'm glad I decided to just buy more rechargable batteries instead of buying the recharging stand. It's not as convinent, but I already had the recharger and a bunch of batteries. I just bought more to accomadate all the remotes.
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12-31-2007 @ 3:36PM
Jon said...
I do the same. I also already had a few rechargeable batteries and I like the idea that I can get 4 more for $10-$15 at most stores. When the charger stand batteries go dead, where are you going to get more easily and how much are they? I can also use my rechargeable AA batteries for other things. I have 4 remotes and to have two charger stations would be about $60. Who needs the grip on the back of the rechargeable stand batteries when Nintendo is giving away free silicone Wii remote jackets.
12-31-2007 @ 4:38PM
Fatass of Kickassness said...
#1 - Nyko Charge Station batteries are only 9 bucks, readily avaliable at any Gamestop across the nation.
#2, in my experience, these charge station batteries hold a longer charge than most rechargeable batteries.
12-31-2007 @ 4:43PM
Garst said...
Fatass of Kickassness, didn't you read our comments?
1) We already had the recharger and some batteries
2) a pack of 4-AA batteries costs under $9
3) the rechargable AA batteries can be using in other thing besides the remotes
12-31-2007 @ 10:44PM
Fatass of Kickassness said...
I should have clarified - I wasn't replying to you but the person who replied to you.
12-31-2007 @ 10:45PM
Fatass of Kickassness said...
oops, nvm, I'm confusing myself here.
12-31-2007 @ 3:12PM
Tristan said...
Ill just keep buying Rayovac Batteries 32 packs rock
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12-31-2007 @ 3:26PM
FX-1 said...
Excellent Homestar Runner reference!
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12-31-2007 @ 3:39PM
SergeEXE said...
Actually, I got this recharge station as a gift, and I haven't had any problems with it whatsoever. But then again, I don't keep the Wiimotes in there any longer than I have to. (When the indicator lights let me know that the batteries are fully charged, I take them out.)
And even when I do keep the Wiimotes in longer than needed, I haven't noticed any overheating of the sort.
Maybe mine is just one of the few functional ones??
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12-31-2007 @ 3:46PM
snorkel said...
I have one of these things, and while I've never had the problem expressed here I will say that it is a total piece of crap. I bought it from Target and the first week it seemed to be fine. I threw away the packaging and the receipt, only to discover that one of the battery packs was dead the next week.
I took the set to Target where they told me they couldn't do anything for me since I didn't have the packaging and that I needed to contact the manufacturer. Only problem is that for the life of me I can't figure out who the smeg the manufacturer is. No amount of googling for Psyclone has turned up anything about these people. The only thing they seem to make is this junk.
So, I decided to be a bad human being and I went to Target, bought a second Psyclone wiimote charger, and put my original charger in the new box and returned the damn thing. The second one appears to work better, however the charging station has blue lights that are supposed to illuminate when it is charging, but on my charging station one of the chargers doesn't illuminate at all. I thought that it was busted, but it does appear to charge the battery, just doesn't light up to tell me so.
Thanks for posting this, I'll be sure not to leave my wiimotes in this thing unattended.
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12-31-2007 @ 3:55PM
Fulluphigh said...
This Psyclone brand just came out, as far as I can tell, as I had never seen them until a month or two ago. I believe they're manufactured by the same company that makes the "React" brand. I think.
Either way, I thought they both offered "7-year warranties", though it may have just been React. I personally think that's bull, as a first party controller doesn't last seven year, and a console doesn't last seven years. So I avoid them at all cost.
But I sell a bunch of em at Best Buy, so what evs.
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12-31-2007 @ 4:27PM
Jhongerkong said...
I had one and it broke my 2 wiimotes. I was mad until I saw this on the box:
"Features include:
Convenient charging
Attractive white color
BREAKING UR WIIMOTE SUCKA"
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12-31-2007 @ 6:51PM
LarryB said...
@Snorkel - The website is http://www.psyclonegamer.com for future "issues"
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1-01-2008 @ 9:29PM
Ichiro said...
Damit!! My wife got me one for Christmas and it killed one of my Wii
remotes! The Battery got crazy hot, and when I replaced the
rechargeable pack with regular batteries the regular batteries also
got crazy hot. It definitely shorted something out.
I checked the charger and it was kicking out a bit more than 5V DC
from the charging pins. The battery packs were supplying around 3.8V.
It appears there is no diode or protection when the Wii remotes are
placed in the charger, the Wii remotes are getting the full 5V+ while
charging.
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1-02-2008 @ 10:21AM
Nate said...
I have noticed some issues with mine not charging one of the included battery packs on one of my wiimotes... Perhaps I have to try some regular AA batteries and make sure my 'mote's not toasted.
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1-04-2008 @ 12:07PM
tr6nut said...
If you have problems with this charging dock killing your remotes, or melting battery packs, or high heat problems, you should register a complaint with the Consumer Product Safety Commision website. If they gewt enough complaints, they might force Psyclone to recall the docks.
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1-12-2008 @ 9:33PM
vajayjay said...
Thanks for the comments. I was looking for the charging docks but now I will just use rechargables instead. You guys saved my remotes and wii all thank you.
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1-17-2008 @ 4:40PM
abrown said...
Unfortunately, I set up and charged 2 stations/ 4 remotes. 3 of the remotes are now bricks. Nintendo says they can repair for $35 each plus $5 shipping. Interesting, but same price of a new remote. They did say that they have had lots of similar calls on this issue.
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2-05-2008 @ 4:00PM
Adam said...
Yeah, I also have "bricked" a couple of wii-motes with this stupid charger. I've gone through 3 in just over a month!
It is very hard to resist smashing this pile of crap into little tiny pieces and mailing it back to them.
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