One of the bad points the Wiimotes have is that they lack of a rechargeable battery.  A console that did this right was the Playstation 3, with controllers that just need to connect to the console USB to recharge.  Luckily, some manufacturers such as Nyko have worked to bring us these docks that will not only help us with the battery issue but also will keep our controllers in place and protected.

There are different types of Wii charge docks; the main difference is the amount of controllers they can charge at the same time.  The most popular are the Wii dual chargers, but of course if you like to play along with the family or group of friends, you can find a quad charger station.

Having tested different Wii charge docks, I can say that the time a battery can last is the same as the time AAs can last.  Now this doesn’t mean they are equal.  Having a rechargeable battery is immensely more convenient in the long run.  The time it takes to charge will also vary.  The most popular Wii charger out there, made by Nyko takes 1.5 to 2 hours to fully charge an empty battery, and if you need to charge two controllers at the same time, that time will multiply by 2, because the energy will be shared between the two controllers.

These Wii charge docks that we see on the market are very well designed and can fit any gaming environment perfectly.  Some of the designs have kept in mind the original Wii design and you’d think they were designed by Nintendo, when in fact they are not.

Are Wii charging docks a necessary accessory for a gamer? I’d say yes, especially if you or your family plays Wii a lot. Not only will a Wii remote charging station save you money on batteries in the long run, but you’ll also have a nice holder to put your Wiimotes and they will stay protected.  Most gamers tend to leave controllers on places such as the floor, or on the top of the TV, where they can suffer an accident.

The Nyko Wii charge station has a design that combines perfectly with your Wii, in fact if you take a good look at it, it has followed the same design guidelines s the Wii, ti even looks like it was designed by Nintendo! Even the LED light that shows you the device is charging the batteries is blue like the consoles’ LED light.

This charger needs you to take out the rubber protection that now comes with Wii controller, but if you don’t wish to put it again you can enjoy good gripping.  The part where the battery goes has rubber on it so it will enhance your grip -  a pretty nice detail! Just be sure to use also the strap on the controller to avoid smashing your brand new LCD TV!

The battery that comes with the charge station is high-quality and it comes as one piece with the rubber top, so it is very easy to put in your controller. From there you can just forget it because the Wii remote charging station will be charging on the battery at all times. The rubber door has a cut with the metal contact for the charge station. Through this contact the batteries will get charged.

So now, you just connect the Nyko Wii charge station and put on your controllers.  If the light is blue, it means that the battery is still charging, once the battery is fully charged the LED light will turn to green – and you are ready to play! Notice that in order to charge the controller it must be turned off.

How much time does a battery needs to recharge? Well, according to Nyko, it depends if you are charging one or two controllers.  If you are charging just one controller, it should take up to 1.5 – 2 hours to fully charge an empty battery.  If you have two controllers, time would be doubled to 3.5 – 4 hours.  Although Nyko doesn’t clearly state how much time will the batteries endure, according to our tests the time is pretty much the same as regular AA batteries. You can find the Nyko Wii Charge station for $24.99.

The market of Wii accessories has also become extremely popular, we can find accessories of every type for every type of gamer and even Wii skins.  The latest and best selling is the Wii Fit, but there are others that are cool like the Wii gloves, the Wii guns, and there are even others that are necessary for many like a Wii remote charging station.

If you are going to spend money on one, it would be good if you keep in mind these top Wii remote accessories:

Wii Remote Charging Station – If you play the Wii a lot alone or with friends, this is an accessory you must buy if you want to make your gamer-life easier.  A charging station will help you play for hours and never have to worry about buying new batteries.  Plus they serve to keep things tidy and protect the controllers.

Wii Gun – When the Wii came out, the first use that it came to our heads was to use the controllers for first-person-shooter games.  Alone, the Wii controller works fine, it was designed with that in mind also, but it lacks the “feel” of playing a game with a gun, like some of us did back then in the “Duck Hunt” days.  The Wii gun is a special holder in form of a where you cane easily adhere the Wiimote.  There are different manufacturers depending on the design you want.  Nintendo even offers one that comes with a special Zelda game.

Wii Racing Wheel – The Wii has also brought us many racing games, and for them I have to say that the Wii remote alone is not particularly comfortable.  Not only you luck “the feel” of driving, but it also makes it a bit awkward.  Mario Kart offered a wii wheel, very simple to use, but some manufacturers have come up with better solutions like a docking system that actually feels like a special driving controller.

These are just the best Wii accessories in the market, but you will find many more.  In fact each accessory in the top 3 has many variations (there are Wii remote charging stations for 2 or 4 controllers for example).  If you are a gamer enthusiast like us, you will surely find something that you’d like to buy.

Why should you get a Wii dual charge station?

In order to have lots of fun with the Wii you just need a game to play with your friends and working remotes. To be able to play with your friends without problems a charging station is a must. If you plan to use games for up to four people it is even possible to find charge station for 4 controllers! (Like for example Eforcity’s Charging and Docking Station or the Charge Station Quad) In my particular case buying two charging was the best option – why? Because using two controllers is more common and you can keep the extra station in case you need it.

As you see, you will easily have two Wii controllers ready to be used at any given time without much hassle.  Feel like playing? Just pick up your control from the charger and go!  It has happened to many that they are enthusiast about playing a game only to be frustrated by dead batteries.  With a Wii remote charging station these problems are gone.  Even if you are playing a lone and run out of charged batteries, you can pick the extra controller while the other recharges!

There’s another reason why you should get a Wii dual charge station: Convenience.  The station will help you keep your gaming zone in order – no more controllers lying on the floor, on the table, or simply nowhere to be found!  They will also stay protected on the docking station, these stations are reliable and come in the same color as the Wii – you won’t even have to worry about colors not matching!

As you can see, a “Wii dual charge station can be of great help.  When searching for the best option out there to charge your wiimotes, be sure to keep in mind the details of the product like charge time, or the cord length. With a great charger you’ll make sure you always be ready to play and your friends too!

As an owner of all current consoles, I know that the Wii is the most annoying when it comes to changing batteries.  You have to take out the protective rubber first, and then put it all back together.  The Xbox 360 is much simpler, and well the PS3 is perfect in this sense because it already comes with a rechargeable battery that recharges when plugged to the PS3!

There are different types of Wii remote chargers, if you want to know the best brands , now it is really easy because you’ll find plenty of user reviews and star-ratings on the Web. If you want a personal opinion, I’ll tell you what is the one I’ve tried and used successfully: Nyko chargers, they are pretty reliable and easy to use but there may be other offers out there.

Another thing you’ll want to keep in mind when looking for a Wii remote charging station, is how many controllers you want to charge.  Nowadays, it is pretty easy to find dual charger stations that not only act to charge your batteries, but will also help to dock and protect your Wii controllers. There are even chargers that for up to 4 controllers! Thanks to them you won’t need to worry about changing your controllers or buying an extra dual station.

The offers of charger stations have gotten better as manufacturers are seeing how the Wii has become the most popular of all three next-gen consoles.  It is a machine that appeals to the mass market of casual gamers, although recently we are starting to see new games geared more at hardcore gamers.

In this site you will find more information about Wii chargers and how to make the best decision on one.  You’ll also find some product reviews, so feel free to explore the site as you like! If you have any comment, suggestion or question about Wiimote chargers or a related issue feel free to leave your comments!