Product Description

Recharge your Xbox 360 Wireless Controller while you play and kiss disposable batteries goodbye! Complete with a charging cable and rechargeable battery pack, the Xbox 360 Play and Charge Kit is all you need to juice up your Wireless Controller - even in the midst of battle.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #287 in Video Games
• Brand: Microsoft
• Model: 882224035385
• Released on: 2006-06-15
• Platform: Xbox 360
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.50" h x 5.25" w x 7.00" l, .55 pounds

Features

• Recharge while you play Don't miss a thing! Recharge while you play or when your Xbox 360 is in standby mode.
• Know your battery levelYou'll always know your battery levethe battery fuel gauge is shown on the Xbox 360 dashboard.
• 25 hours of gameplay per chargeGo at it all night long. The rechargeable battery pack provides over 25 hours of gameplay per charge.
• Battery pack needs to be left plugged in to the unit and not used for 5 to 6 hours when the Play & Charge Kit is used for the first time.
• The Battery Pack will continue to build up the lifespan the more the pack is charged.

Customer Reviews

Not true....
You DO NOT have to have the Xbox 360 powered up to charge your controller. Simply plug the cable in while the console is on, and then shut down the machine. It will charge using a trickle charge concept. However, you MUST connect the cable to the console before powering down the system.

Essential component and does NOT require the Xbox 360 to be on to recharge
This component is essential for the Xbox 360 to save on batteries.

However, you do not need to keep the Xbox 360 on while it is recharging. Simply plug your charger into the controller and into the Xbox 360 while the Xbox is on, and then turn it off.

Microsoft's directions can be found here:

Charge the battery pack
Charge your Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery Pack before the first use and when it is depleted.
To charge the battery pack using the charge cable
1. Press the tab on the top of the AA battery pack and pull down to detach it from the controller.
2. Insert the rechargeable battery pack into the battery compartment on the controller and push in to lock.
Note To avoid pinching your fingers when you insert the battery pack, push only on the flat surface of the battery pack.
3. Turn on the Xbox 360 console.
Note If you try the below steps without turning the console on, the battery pack will not charge.
4. Connect the charge cable to the charge port on the front of the controller.
Important Do not connect the charge cable without a rechargeable battery pack or AA battery pack installed. This can damage the controller.
5. Connect the charge cable to a controller port.
6. You can now leave the console on or turn it off. In both instances, the light on the charge cable will glow red to indicate the battery is charging. When the light switches to green or off, the battery pack is fully charged.


Enjoy!

A Must-Have for Every XBox Owner
If you have a wireless controller for your XBox 360, then you MUST get a play and charge unit. This unit lets you recharge your wireless controller - and you can even play while you do it!

In essence, this unit is both a USB power supply for your wireless controller as well as a fully functional cable to connect your wireless controller to your XBox. This means that any time you need your wireless controller to be wired - for example because your batteries ran out - you simply use this cable to plug it into the XBox's USB port and it now has power. It even charges while you play.

On the other hand, let's say you want to charge up the wireless controller and you do NOT want to play. You simply plug it into any USB port in your house, and the USB port sends power to charge it up! Yes, this can be your XBox, if you're the type to leave it on. Maybe you're watching a movie or listening to music with it. It doesn't HAVE to be your XBox, though. You can plug it into your computer. Heck, when I got my iPod it came with a power box that plugs into an outlet, that has a USB hole in it. That's how I charge up my iPod. It works just as well for this charging use.

So I find this to be a perfect solution. If your wireless controller is low on batteries and you want to keep playing, then keep playing! You plug in the cable and are set, and the controller recharges while you play. If your wireless controller is low on batteries and you do NOT want to keep playing, then you plug the play-and-charge cable into any USB port for an ON SYSTEM and it powers up.

I put the emphasis on the "on system" because a few people complain that the XBox has to be on in order for the wireless controller to charge. Simply put, an OFF system can't charge. That's a fact of electronics. Really, most homes should have some USB device turned on pretty much 24 hours a day - whether it's your XBox, your computer, or the plug-in-the-wall iPod type power unit. It's about as basic a charger as you could want to have, and I find it perfect!