Rumor: Psyclone Wiimote recharger de-charges Wiimotes permanently

by JC Fletcher { Dec 31st 2007 at 2:15PM }

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]

Tags: battery, charger, psyclone, wii-recharge-station

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Adam @ Feb 5th 2008 4:00PM

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.

troy @ Dec 31st 2007 2:50PM

I got Nyko and it works great, and the awesome new backs for the Wii-Remotes give a better grip. Best all around charger.

Garst @ Dec 31st 2007 3:09PM

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.

Jon @ Dec 31st 2007 3:36PM

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.

Fatass of Kickassness @ Dec 31st 2007 4:38PM

#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.

Garst @ Dec 31st 2007 4:43PM

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

Fatass of Kickassness @ Dec 31st 2007 10:44PM

I should have clarified - I wasn't replying to you but the person who replied to you.

Fatass of Kickassness @ Dec 31st 2007 10:45PM

oops, nvm, I'm confusing myself here.

Tristan @ Dec 31st 2007 3:12PM

Ill just keep buying Rayovac Batteries 32 packs rock

FX-1 @ Dec 31st 2007 3:26PM

Excellent Homestar Runner reference!

SergeEXE @ Dec 31st 2007 3:39PM

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??

snorkel @ Dec 31st 2007 3:46PM

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.

Fulluphigh @ Dec 31st 2007 3:55PM

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.

Jhongerkong @ Dec 31st 2007 4:27PM

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"

LarryB @ Dec 31st 2007 6:51PM

@Snorkel - The website is http://www.psyclonegamer.com for future "issues"

Ichiro @ Jan 1st 2008 9:29PM

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.

Nate @ Jan 2nd 2008 10:21AM

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.

tr6nut @ Jan 4th 2008 12:07PM

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.

vajayjay @ Jan 12th 2008 9:33PM

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.

abrown @ Jan 17th 2008 4:40PM

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.