Reader, [Fox9p3400], opened up an Xbox 360 controller battery pack so we could all see what goes into one. It contains two Sanyo 2100mAh NiMH AA rechargeables (Model HR-3U 1.2V). In addition to that, there is an Atmel microcontroller (not pictured) and the copper temperature probe you can see above. He has more pictures on Photobucket.
That’s not a microcontroller, it’s a 4kbit I2C serial EEPROM. Probably to tell the controller’s microcontroller (confused yet?) what type of battery pack it is, or possibly used by the charger to set charge parameters.
Posted at 4:29 pm on Oct 4th, 2008 by error404
I would if i could/knew. I don’t have the knowledge or the equipment. I just cracked it open over a bet with a freind. (I’m $20 richer)
Posted at 5:29 pm on Oct 4th, 2008 by Fox9p3400
Wow no way…guess what I did that like 1 year ago…we ripped open a battery pack wow!!!! Woop dee do!
Posted at 6:08 pm on Oct 4th, 2008 by John
yawn
Posted at 6:33 pm on Oct 4th, 2008 by Rob
cookies.
Posted at 6:52 pm on Oct 4th, 2008 by pip
So it isn’t even a Li-Ion?
Hello lighter controllers? Maybe a smaller battery bay?
Posted at 2:03 am on Oct 5th, 2008 by nubie
Now I know that it is an EEPROM, I think I’m going to try to get a memory dump. I’m assuming this works by the controller taking the P+ and P-, regulating it, and then providing the Vcc back to the battery pack so the EEPROM has the required voltage, while using the P- as a GND. Anyone have any thoughts?
I would hate to pry this sucker open and then not have it fit in my controller anymore. I’m too cheap to spend $12 on another one.
Posted at 7:44 am on Oct 5th, 2008 by BronzeG3
The case was welded together, ur gonna have to invest in clamps and epoxy
Posted at 3:47 pm on Oct 5th, 2008 by fox9p3400
Its an EEPROM. They tend to get corrupted and cause the batteries to not charge (happened to two of mine). Those packs are rediculous. You can just put two AA rechargable batteries in the original pack that comes with the controller for waaay less than these things cost. When mine broke I just pulled out the batteries, slapped them in a charger, and used them in my stock battery pack.
Posted at 6:13 pm on Oct 5th, 2008 by poopysock5
the data stored in the i2c 256 byte contain the S/N of the battery and simple counter system for recharge and battery life.
the icon battery in the dashboard is in function of the counter and not of the real battery life.
so in not a reliable system….
bye
GodzIvan
Posted at 1:32 am on Oct 6th, 2008 by godzivan
If I remember right, when these were first released someone did this on the Xbox-Scene forums. There is one byte in the eeprom that changes one it has been charged for the first time.
It really wasn’t anything interesting IMHO.
Posted at 7:03 am on Oct 6th, 2008 by Harrison
I ripped mine open a while ago when it died (30 min of power = lame/dead) and the chip seems to be there to monitor battery temps to prevent overheating the battery pack on a charge. The thermoreistor attached to the batteries was the only thing worth scavenging out of it that I could figure.
Posted at 4:48 pm on Oct 7th, 2008 by Bill
any idea what chip are they using for battery charging?
Posted at 9:17 pm on Nov 26th, 2008 by Rajesh
I need to take a P. Maybe even a P+.
Posted at 7:33 am on Jun 21st, 2009 by EvilBob
hey i was wondering by were does the charge from the outlet go into the battery pack which ones of the
p-,sck, sda, p/+,vcc
Posted at 1:50 pm on Jul 1st, 2009 by jimmy
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SDA and SCL look like an I2C bus. Anyone probe those lines to see what is being sent?
Posted at 3:36 pm on Oct 4th, 2008 by BronzeG3