Product: Thrustmaster T-Charge All NW Wii Remote Charging Stand
Price: $29.99
Features:

• Connects to the console’s USB port or any other device with a USB port
• Includes 2  battery doors, 4 rechargeable AAA NiMH 900 mAh batteries (4 hour recharging time for 10 to 15 hours of usage), and 2 battery cases which can be used with any other rechargeable batteries

With the runaway success of the Nintendo Wii, it’s no surprise that tons of third party companies have been pumping out accessories for the motion-sensitive console.  From Wii-mote skins to steering wheels to Wii-Zapper knock-offs, the market is just about flooded with the peripherals.  With all these products on the shelves, it’s easy to think that there’s nothing but trash out there.  Well, you can rest assured that Thrustmaster is doing what they can to dispel that myth with their T-Charge All NW Wii Remote Charging Stand.

The name may be unwieldy and clunky, but the unit itself is just the opposite.  The T-Charge (that’s what I’m calling it, because the abbreviation “TTCANWWRCS” just ain’t cutting it) is a USB charger that holds two Wiimotes and two nunchucks.  Included are four rechargeable AAA batteries, two battery cradles and two battery doors.  Two AAA batteries fit inside each cradle, which then fit inside the Wii mote instead of the normal AA batteries.  Once the battery case is in, the Wiimote is ready to be charged by placing it in one of the two charging docks.  It takes about 4 hours to reach full charge, with each charge good for about 10 hours of game play.  The Wii-motes fit snugly in the docks, with the charging connectors always matching up easily.  There are two removable plastic inserts in the bottom of the docks to allow Wii-motes with rubber skins to fit easily.  These can be a little tough to remove the first time, but afterwards are easy to swap in and out.  Two slots in the back allow storage for the nunchuck controllers and their cords.  Technically, they do fit in the back slots, but not as securely as you’d like.  It’s a very minor complaint, but with the Wii mote docks fitting so well, it’s worth mentioning. 

The unit feels a little less solid than it looks, though it did stand up well to some impromptu stress testing (dropping it off a table.)  At about a foot long and 2 ½ inches wide, the T-Charge’s footprint is a little bigger than most Wii-mote chargers, but the ability to hide all of your controller cords more than makes up for it.  My biggest complaint with the design of the unit is the color choice.  Next to the all-white Wii, the PS3 piano-black charger looks out of place.  Again, a pretty minor complaint, but it’s a controller charger, so nitpicking is pretty much all I got.  There is a pair of blue lights on the front of the unit to indicate when Wii motes are being charged.  Once they are charged, the lights go from solid blue to blinking blue.  The blinking is bright and fast and can be a bit distracting if you keep the charger near your TV.  The attached USB cord is about five feet long, giving you enough room to put the charger a decent distance from the Wii if you so desire.

The T-Charge All NW Wii Remote Charging Stand is a completely capable charger that looks nice, if a bit un-Wii-like, and comes with everything you’ll need in a controller charging solution.  At around $30, it’s a good choice for anyone who uses their Wii often enough that batteries are an issue.

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