<b>This mod is for all <i>standard</i> WMR controllers.</b>
<b>Unfortunately, the Samsung Odyssey controllers are currently not
...Show more 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 consist
