Charging PS3 controllers without the console.

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richms

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#148694 27-Jun-2014 20:30

Anyone know a way other than buying one of those ugly dock things to get a PS3 controller to charge off a 5v supply?

DOesnt seem to charge plugged straight into a apple or generic USB wall wart. Dont want a stand since I have tried one and they are a prick to put on and take off, and cant really use them while charging.

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solaybro

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#1075764 27-Jun-2014 20:37

Does charging it with the USB ports on your computer work?

richms

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#1075767 27-Jun-2014 20:52

Not tried the computer but I don't really want to put a computer there just to charge.

Worst case I will get a cheap dock and wire a cable into it but am hoping it's just a resistor thing like iphones need

Richard rich.ms

thorax

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#1079696 4-Jul-2014 00:33

Be careful with cheap wall chargers, especially after http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/technology/60123535/Australian-woman-electrocuted-by-USB-charger.

I picked up a 5m usb cable that allows me charge and play at the same time. (plugged in to the ps3).

Coil

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#1079718 4-Jul-2014 01:43

thorax: Be careful with cheap wall chargers, especially after http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/technology/60123535/Australian-woman-electrocuted-by-USB-charger.

I picked up a 5m usb cable that allows me charge and play at the same time. (plugged in to the ps3).

A whole 3 amps and 12 volts :O? 0.0007 (7 miliamps) directly to the heart will stop it.
Never knew that would kill someone.

xpd

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#1079741 4-Jul-2014 08:17

Yup they charge off PC..... but havent tried anything else.

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russelo

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#1079758 4-Jul-2014 09:10

Interested with this too.
Was searching for some time now but can't find any.

I've tried shorting the data pins together ( as done for mobile phone charging) but didn't work.

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Hatch

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#1080931 4-Jul-2014 13:04

russelo: Interested with this too.
Was searching for some time now but can't find any.

I've tried shorting the data pins together ( as done for mobile phone charging) but didn't work.

From memory I think there are some official Sony plug in USB chargers which work. Otherwise I would always leave my controllers plugged into my TV's USB port - which i never used to watch movies of a USB flash drive anyway.

russelo

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#1080961 4-Jul-2014 13:45

I haven't thought about plugging it to my TV's USB port. I just assumed it wouldn't work.
I'll try plugging it to my tivo or tv and see.

Hatch

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#1080975 4-Jul-2014 13:59

It worked for me. I don't really remember the technical discussion, but I think in layman's terms it goes like: if there is a CPU of some sort behind the USB port, then it should charge.

It probably isn't that simple but you get my gist.

michael001

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#1081540 5-Jul-2014 17:13

I have a PS3 controller I bluetooth with my android phone to play MAME arcade games several times a week.

I have never owned a Playstation, just need a controller that is portable.

I have charged it off:

USB plugged into wall socket adapter.
USB plugged into gaming PC.
USB plugged into Late 2013 Macbook.
USB plugged into car cigarette lighter with adapter.

Charges up pretty much off everything, though I haven't tried plugging it into my cat yet.

Need to find a USB to cat adapter.

lxsw20

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#1081544 5-Jul-2014 17:19

TimA:
thorax: Be careful with cheap wall chargers, especially after http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/technology/60123535/Australian-woman-electrocuted-by-USB-charger.

I picked up a 5m usb cable that allows me charge and play at the same time. (plugged in to the ps3).

A whole 3 amps and 12 volts :O? 0.0007 (7 miliamps) directly to the heart will stop it.
Never knew that would kill someone.

Now lets say it's a cheap adapter and all of a sudden it's passing through 230V @ 10A which I think was the case here. In my experience (as a 3 year old) it will certainly blow you across the room.

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richms

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#1081545 5-Jul-2014 17:22

michael001: I have a PS3 controller I bluetooth with my android phone to play MAME arcade games several times a week.

I have never owned a Playstation, just need a controller that is portable.

I have charged it off:

USB plugged into wall socket adapter.
USB plugged into gaming PC.
USB plugged into Late 2013 Macbook.
USB plugged into car cigarette lighter with adapter.

Charges up pretty much off everything, though I haven't tried plugging it into my cat yet.

Need to find a USB to cat adapter.

Charges off the PC fine, doesnt charge off my samsung or a generic wall charger (which I think has the iphone resistors rather than being spec compliant) - wont charge off the PC when the PC is off, wont charge off my USB powerbank.

Richard rich.ms