Tell me more ×
Arqade is a question and answer site for passionate videogamers on all platforms. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 13 down vote favorite
1

I normally charge the PS3 controller by connecting it to the PS3 while its idling, but I guess it's much easier to charge it through my PCs USB port.

Would this work?

share|improve this question

2 Answers

up vote 15 down vote accepted

Yes, you can charge it from any USB port.

share|improve this answer
Strange, I just tried it and the lights didn't start blinking. Does it have to be turned on? – Ivo Flipse Nov 2 '10 at 12:59
It shouldn't. I did some quick Google searches as well and everything I found confirmed that it should charge on any USB port, and that you should see the lights blinking. – bwarner Nov 2 '10 at 13:05
Then it must be my extension cables, I'll try plugging it in directly later – Ivo Flipse Nov 2 '10 at 13:11
5  
You should try different usb plugs from your computer. They do NOT all deliver the same amount of amperes so some are "more powerful" than others. Usually the one directly on the motherboard (on the back of the desktop) are more powerful – Eric Nov 2 '10 at 20:37
by extension it would seem that a mini-usb cell phone charger ought to work, too. i charge both my phone and my ps3 controllers from my computer, but haven't quite dared to plug my cell charger into my ps3 controller. – JustJeff Jan 17 '11 at 0:06
show 1 more comment
up vote 2 down vote

Yes the PS3 controller can be charged from a USB port on a computer, and there are also specialised controller charging stations available. It appears that generic AC-to-USB adapters won't work, possibly because the controller requires device drivers on the host or some kind of "handshake" in order to charge.

Reference

share|improve this answer
I doubt it. There are many charge stations available which charge PS3 controllers. I doubt those stations run some some of drivers. – JohnoBoy Feb 1 '12 at 22:23
1  
@JohnoBoy Given that you have to buy tailor-made "PS3 Charging Stations" I think it's quite likely that they have something inside them which performs a handshake with the controller. Perhaps "driver" is the wrong word, I don't know the details of how it works. I do know that when you plug one into a PC it doesn't start charging until the PC "loads" the device, so there's something happening there. And I also know that you can't charge it from a generic USB charging station. – jwaddell Feb 1 '12 at 22:34
I think it's probably voltage issue. Reading a bit on the USB WikiPedia page, I came across the issue of voltage supplied without "device negotiation", it seems this voltage is limited to 100ma, after negotiation (recognizing a device is on the other side), that voltage is 500ma. I checked my iPhone AC adapter, it supplies 150ma and doesn't charge PS3 controllers. Sony's own USB ac adapter (discontinued) states output is 1500 and can charge up to two devices at once. So its seems PS3 controllers need more than 150ma to start charging, perhaps 500ma minimum. – JohnoBoy Feb 1 '12 at 23:06
My iPhone AC adapter has an output of 1A (the input is 150mA) and it doesn't charge a PS3 controller. So I don't think the behavior is just controlled by a minimum voltage. – jwaddell Feb 1 '12 at 23:16
1  
@JohnoBoy: Amps are a measure of amperage (current), not voltage (which is measured in volts). The amperage listed on a power-supply lists only the maximum amps that power-supply can safely output - so just because the AC-adapter says "1500mA" doesn't mean it actually draws anywhere near that. The wiki article you're quoting is about a new type of USB port introduced in 2007, which (as far as I can tell) has nothing to do with this discussion. – BlueRaja - Danny Pflughoeft Feb 2 '12 at 0:22
show 3 more comments

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.