360 play and charge kits

[nonny]

I ditched my play and charge for rechargeable batteries. Specifically I use the sanyo eneloop brand for both controllers and my turtle beach headset. For controllers they seem to last ages, a good 20+ hours.

Honestly haven't looked back since I made the change. Just always have a second batch on standby.

[Mayhem]

I've had a play and charge kit for two years, since I bought my 360. Can't say I've had much of an issue with it and the two rechargeable packs.

[Spatial]

I ditched my play and charge for rechargeable batteries...For controllers they seem to last ages, a good 20+ hours.

Honestly haven't looked back since I made the change. Just always have a second batch on standby.

This is me too.

My Play and Charge kit knackered three to four battery packs so I f'd it in the bin for a decent set of rechargeable batteries.

Works well and they seem to last a lot longer than the official packs - with one of those chargers that does the job in an hour, you're laughing.

[fallenangle]

Like somebody else earlier I couldn't be bothered with exactly the sorts of hassles that have been described here. Instead I bought a (used) official XB360 wired controller. In fact I bought one good one and two "in need of repair" for peanuts. Fixed both and together all three cost me less than the official play and charge kit.

In the 'long' term rechargeables inevitably start to lose efficiency. So you buy a replacement you keep charged just in case the first one goes, and then another when the first finally does become unusable.

In 30+ years of using them for a whole host of other purposes I've yet to find any NiCads that have lived as long as the manufacturer's claims. Vast variations between the useable life of the various brands I've used, mostly well known ones, too.

They save big money when compared to ordinary batteries, that's undeniable, but when there's a practical alternative not to use batteries of any sort that's what I'd always choose.

[EvilBoris]

I've had battery packs that wouldn't charge via play and charge but would charge via the mains powered charger that you can buy , after a good charge they would work fine in the p&c again.

I'm guessing the little chip that controls the charge level was confused.

The mains chargers are like £7 preowned in gamestation which includes a battery

[charlesr]

I've had the same play and charge kit (white) for however long I've had my 360 and it lasts for ages.


If you must go the rechargeable route, get something like the GP green reckyos that hold charge for ages while you aren't using them.

[speedlolita]

I've had like, 2 play and charge kits. Both have shorted and died on me within a week of use.

Goooo Microsoft!

[NW2013]

How long are the cords on the wired pads?

[fallenangle]

I think they're 8 feet but I'll check later.

Edit: Just measured the wired cable and from USB plug to controller it's actually 10ft/3m.

Shouldn't be any trouble extending that if required as there are purpose made XB360 controller extension cable on eBay/Amazon etc. I'd guess, because I've not tried it myself, that simple M/F USB extension leads would also work. I hope somebody here might be able to confirm that for certain.