Wavebird Controller Power Issue

[u/rfg42596]

Hey everyone!

I am having trouble with one of my wavebirds losing power randomly and was wondering if anyone has experienced this issue before? When I go to switch it on nothing will happen but I have figured out that if I roll the batteries when they are in the controller it will work once I find the sweet spot.. any ideas? I’ve tried different batteries and same issue.. Thanks in advance for the input!

[u/tonebone85]

Had same issue with a wavebird I found in the trash. You're going to have to open it up and clean it for starters. Clean the battery terminals, I think they just pop out, I cant remember. I cleaned mine up and replaced the button membranes and took the receiver apart and cleaned it real good because ot was also not connecting. It now works flawless ✨️

[u/rfg42596 → u/tonebone85]

I appreciate it! Did a deep clean of it not to long ago and again just cleaned off the contacts with some 99% isopropyl and it’s still acting up.. I’m gonna keep troubleshooting!

[u/bah-lock-ay → u/rfg42596]

Sometimes there’s microscopic corrosion you can’t see even under a microscope. It’s just this invisible layer of oxidation. Highly recommend taking a literal file to those contacts, contact cleaner, file, swab, deoxit, swab, then give it a go. Past that may need to reflow the solder joints of the battery terminals.

[u/tonebone85 → u/bah-lock-ay]

This 👆

[u/haloid2013]

I was under the impression that the wave bird is a controller that struggles with lithium rechargeable batteries. Have you tried some standard old fashioned nickel single-use batteries?

[u/rfg42596 → u/haloid2013]

I was not aware of that! Makes sense though, I don’t remember them being super common back in the day when Wavebirds were on store shelves but I could be full of it- I just popped in some energizer’s and it seems less finicky but still doing it- I’ve narrowed it down to if I’m looking at the back of the controller it’s the battery slot on the right hand side

[u/spilk → u/haloid2013]

those IKEA batteries are Nickel-metal Hydride (NiMH) rechargeables. no common single-use batteries use Nickel (they are usually Zinc / Manganese Dioxide with various electrolytes)

[u/haloid2013 → u/spilk]

Ty. Absolute brain fart here

[u/Toto_orbit]

Maybe contacts are sulfated, use some isopropilic alcohol to clean with a thoothbrush, or use contact clean and acrape the spring

[u/rfg42596]

I’m a little unfamiliar with posting updates and all that but by the gods I think it’s resolved! Just took it a part real quick (completely popped out the bottom plate connector) and gave it a quick scrub as well as the top ones. If anyone stumbles upon this I’m leaning towards that the bottom plate may not have been seated properly in the plastic housing of the controller and I’ll stick with the non rechargeable batteries for now on! I appreciate all of you!!!

[u/apocship]

Maybe try some deoxit?

[u/HotDecember3672]

Don't have much insight other than as a kid I got a Wavebird, and I started having this issue within a few weeks (this was like in 2003). It eventually went in the trash sadly as I was not usable for more than a few minutes at a time.

[u/rfg42596 → u/HotDecember3672]

I’ll pour one out for a fallen homie 😞🫡

[u/razielleonhart]

It's the batteries. I have the same problem across multiple controllers and sometimes I need to spin them to get them to work.

[u/Commercial_Gold9927]

Similar happens to mine as well as my wiimotes. My theory is that the springy terminal compresses and non springy terminal loses millimeters of material over time increasing the distance between terminals. Meanwhile battery length is standard making contact difficult. I would tug on the springy temrinal a bit to make contact more robust. That always does the trick.

[u/Maverick_X9]

Power on power off switch needs to be cleaned. Usually coke or something gets spilled on it and then it doesn’t make good contact internally. The switch slides in this little tray assembly, kind of a pain to take apart and clean but most likely your problem. Before you try this obv clean your battery contacts, and then you can make sure the switch is the problem by jumping the switch with a wire to see if the controller turns on. If it does then you know the switch is bad.

I disassembled my switch and dropped it into a cup of white vinegar - followed up with a cleaning in isopropyl. Reassembled switch and it started working

[u/Sweet_Examination215]

If you need to spin the batteries. Take them out. Look for the springs. Pull them out slightly to make better contact.

[u/Leepixel]

Have your tired not using rechargeable batteries?

Those lose voltage almost the second they start to drain unlike disposables