Can you charge the PS3 wireless controller over regular USB?

Question

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?

score 28 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 02 '10 at 12:57

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Yes, you can charge it from any USB port.

answered Nov 02 '10 at 12:57

bwarner

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Strange, I just tried it and the lights didn't start blinking. Does it have to be turned on? – Ivo Flipse Nov 02 '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 02 '10 at 13:05
Then it must be my extension cables, I'll try plugging it in directly later – Ivo Flipse Nov 02 '10 at 13:11
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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 02 '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 00:06
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I'd be hard pressed to say it works from any USB port. I have never managed to charge it using a wall plug charger (like iPhone chargers) for example. – Isak Savo Jun 19 '12 at 06:38
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Some USBs are considered "powered" USBs. These will support the controller. Non powered will not. To say "any USB port" is inxorrect. – Jan 03 '16 at 20:44
@Eric +1 for using back of desktop USB ports! It failed when I tried to use an extension cord too. – Phoinx Apr 17 '20 at 13:17

Paul M · Answer 2 · 2016-05-23T17:07:24.203

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The PS3 controllers were designed before USB charging was standardised (DCP), so they need to do some simple negotiation with the host they're connected to before they'll charge.

All the made for ps3 chargers have a simple chip in them which tells the controller it can charge up.

edited May 23 '16 at 17:07

answered May 27 '13 at 09:12

Paul M

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score 11 · Answer 3 · edited Jan 09 '16 at 00:59

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With respect to charging the controller with a PC: If the controller does not start charging when plugged in to your PC (for me, light was on/solid), open Device Manager, find the game controller listed under Human Interface Devices, disable the controller using the right-click context menu, unplug the controller, plug the controller back in, and the controller should start charging (light(s) on/blinking). I just verified this procedure works on Windows 8.1

edited Jan 09 '16 at 00:59

ave

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answered Jan 09 '16 at 00:53

Hal

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Welcome to arqade, nice answer! I edited out your signature as everyone can see your name clearly. – ave Jan 09 '16 at 01:00
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If you have a lot of devices under Human Interface Devices, the PS3 controller is called HID-compliant game controller. – blade Sep 07 '18 at 08:00

jwaddell · Answer 4 · 2012-02-12T00:20:51.633

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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

edited Feb 12 '12 at 00:20

answered Feb 01 '12 at 22:10

jwaddell

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I doubt it. There are many charge stations available which charge PS3 controllers. I doubt those stations run some some of drivers. – JohnoBoy Feb 01 '12 at 22:23
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@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 01 '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 01 '12 at 23:06
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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 01 '12 at 23:16
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@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 02 '12 at 00:22
+1 if you edit: After making my original comment, I went back and actually, you know, checked that the controller was charging. Much to my surprise, it actually turns out that there were two things going on: 1. PS3 controllers are very energy efficient and 2. I don't actually play my PS3 enough to wear out the batteries (I plug it in to my computer every once in a while as a controller, it must be charging then). The thing was at half-charge despite having been plugged in for the last week or so, so actually you're right. – Tacroy Feb 10 '12 at 18:50
@Tacroy edited, not sure if that was what you meant though? – jwaddell Feb 12 '12 at 00:21
@jwaddell Oh no I just couldn't upvote it until you edited it. – Tacroy Feb 12 '12 at 06:18

score 1 · Answer 5 · edited Jan 07 '14 at 11:27

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Yes. As long as your charger can successfully negotiate with the object is it charging from, it will work. The chances depend on a lot of things.

Experience: I have tried this successfully with my laptop.

edited Jan 07 '14 at 11:27

kalina

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answered Nov 18 '13 at 18:26

Someone

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score 1 · Answer 6 · edited Jan 03 '16 at 22:18

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Can also be a bad cable. That was my problem I had to get a new cable online. After I did it worked like a charm.

And yes they are right you'll have to connect to a host to charge the controller. A simple usb wall plug won't do it.

edited Jan 03 '16 at 22:18

fredley

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answered Jun 17 '14 at 17:31

david2278

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score 1 · Answer 7 · answered Nov 25 '16 at 15:08

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Yes charging on PC works. Had mine plugged in through a USB 4 way port took ages to complete the handshake, hence my finding this thread be patient It'll start blinking eventually.

answered Nov 25 '16 at 15:08

Oliver

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score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Oct 01 '17 at 03:26

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I'm charging my PS3 controller using a portable backup power supply right now, it also worked with my PC as well as my laptop. It worked with my wall fastcharger for my Motorola but not the wall chargers for my notebook, i-phone, nor Samsung.

answered Oct 01 '17 at 03:26

Soerin

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score -1 · Answer 9 · edited Feb 05 '17 at 23:55

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PS3 controllers will not charge using a wall charger, however they will charge when using a USB cable connected to a PC or any other port.

edited Feb 05 '17 at 23:55

Vemonus

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answered Feb 05 '17 at 23:17

Shane Shivnesh Chand

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Can you charge the PS3 wireless controller over regular USB?

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