Nintendo Approves Use of NiMH Batteries in the Wii Remote

Many of you, like me, were disappointed when it was announced that the Wii Remote would not have a built in rechargeable battery pack. And I am sure some of you expected that Nintendo would say what they always say about rechargeable batteries – don’t use them. And sure enough, in the Wii manual, it does say just that. But, I was browsing Nintendo’s support site last night, and I came across this:

Important Note: If you would like to use rechargeable batteries, the only type of battery recommended are Nickel Metal Hydride batteries. When it comes to using rechargeable batteries, you must follow manufacturer guidelines for safety and proper usage. Failure to do so could cause damage to the Wii Remote and void the warranty.

So, for all of you that use rechargeable batteries in everything you can, like me, get out the spare NiMH AA cells you have lying around, and stick them in your remotes when the batteries that came with them die. And for those of you who don’t use rechargeable batteries, the initial cost may be high, but the batteries will save you so much in the long run. The best rated brands are Radio Shack and Rayovac, but many other brands may use similar technology. Batteries with higher milli-Ampere-hour (mAh) capacity will last longer between charges. Just make sure you have a charger that will charge them to their full capacity.