Windows Mixed Reality Controller Self-Rechargeable Battery Mod

thingiverse

<b>This mod is for all <i>standard</i> WMR controllers.</b> <b>Unfortunately, the Samsung Odyssey controllers are currently not supported!</b> If someone makes a copy of the Odyssey controller battery cover, I'd be happy to modify it to work; or alternatively someone can use my blueprint here to make a fully compatible cover from scratch. I'd love to be able to use this on my Odyssey too! :) <h1>Disclaimer</h1> <b>This mod involves using a lithium ion 14500 battery that the Windows Mixed Reality controllers were not necessarily designed to work with.</b> Although evidence currently suggests the mod is safe, that is not an absolute certainty and <b>there is still an element of risk involved.</b> By default WMR controllers use two AA batteries operating in series for a combined total of 3v. This modification uses a single USB rechargeable Li-ion 14500 battery operating at significantly higher voltage: 3.7v (4.2v when fully charged). The battery is also recharged while remaining inside the controller; some of the charging current may also flow through the controller itself with unknown effect. I have personally operated a single set of WMR controllers employing this mod for over a dozen hours without issue, including half a dozen charging cycles. I have also tested this mod for lesser amounts of time on four additional WMR controllers and all of them seemed to tolerate it fine. Based on my positive experience I have decided to share it with others. However there could still be long term damage or shortened controller lifespan that has not yet become apparent. For these reasons, please realize that <b>EMPLOYING THIS MOD REMAINS AT YOUR OWN RISK!</b> <h1>Introduction</h1> Microsoft's Windows Mixed Reality technology is impressive in many ways, but one of the frustrating things about it are the corners that were cut to save costs. One of the worst aspects of this is that the WMR controllers run on AA batteries rather than having internal self-recharging battery packs. This is compounded by the fact that the controller battery life is quite low, so you end up burning through AA batteries like an addict. One solution to this is to use rechargeable NiMH batteries. Unfortunately, this also has several downsides. The lower operating voltage of NiMH batteries compared to alkaline AAs means the controller battery monitor always reads low power. In addition, the poorly designed WMR battery cover rubs against the batteries when you slide it on or off, resulting in their outer wrapping being slowly ripped off. The frequent need to remove and recharge the batteries also leaves the concern that the thin plastic battery cover clip could eventually break. There has to be a better solution than this, right? What if there was a way to modify the WMR controllers so they had internal self-recharging battery packs, similar to the HTC Vive controllers? Well, as it turns out, there is a way! <h1>How the Mod Works</h1> The mod consists of three parts: 1. Klarus 14500UR75 (<a href="https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Klarus+14500UR75&_sacat=0">eBay</a>): Micro USB rechargeable lithium ion battery. (Klarus 14GT-80UR may also work but I haven't tested it.) 2. Battery compartment bridge: either a dummy battery (<a href=https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=dummy+AA+battery&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_osacat=0&_odkw=dummy+AA+battery&LH_TitleDesc=0>eBay</a>, <a href=https://www.amazon.com/s/url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=aa+dummy+battery>Amazon</a>), a #8-32 by 2 inch machine screw (Home Depot, Lowe's), a rolled piece of aluminum foil, or a wire, etc. 3. Modified rear battery cover based on hit8cat's original model, printed from this page. <b>Installation</b> 1. Place the Klarus 14500 battery into the controller, making sure to place it in the proper compartment and with the micro USB port facing forward. <b>IMPORTANT: NEVER put more than one 14500 battery into each controller!</b> 2. Install your chosen bridge into the second compartment. 3. Power on the controller and make sure it is working properly. Pay special attention to whether the battery is making good contact (if not, the controller will keep power cycling when it is moved around). 4. Install the battery cover by inserting the clip at a 45 degree angle into the controller, and then rotating the cover down and pressing down to snap it into place (this puts less pressure on the clip which is the weakest part of the print). <b>Tips</b> 1. If the 14500 battery is not making good contact try folding up a very small piece of aluminum foil and wedging it next to the battery's positive contact. Try not to use too much foil or it may block the charge indicator hole. 2. If using aluminum foil for your bridge: tear off a piece slightly longer than the battery and roll up and twist that piece as tightly as possible. Next, tear off a second piece of the same length and twist that tightly around the first. Finally, use a pair of scissors to cut the foil down to the proper size to fit the compartment (err on the side of being a bit longer as the foil roll should still bend a bit). 3. If the battery compartment clip prints too weak or breaks off, you can wrap a small piece of electrical tape around the controller just beneath the grip button to hold the cover in place (without that or the clip the cover may slide off during strenuous swinging like in Beat Saber). <B>Miscellaneous Q&A</B> * <b>What is the battery life?</b> I measured 8.5 to 9 hours on my stopwatch before the controller started reporting low power and powered off. However, this was over multiple gaming sessions so the battery had time to "recover" after each one. In one sitting (standing?) it's possible it will not last quite as long, but it should be more than long enough for almost everyone. * <b>Are you sure this is really safe?</b> No, see the big disclaimer at the top! ;) With that being said, based on my use so far I <i>think</i> it's probably safe. I wouldn't have shared it with anyone else otherwise. I just can't realistically test the controllers for hundreds of hours to swear it has absolutely no negative effects. What we need is a few other guinea pigs to try the mod and report back with their results!