Problems with PS3 charger cable...

[DarkishFriend]

The original 2ft cable that came with the PS3 held for a while but was only good for charging the controller because it was so short and eventually it failed, though I can't remember how. Maybe 6 months ago I got a new cable that is around 6ft long and this thing sucks. It's always been a problem but at least it charged. The thing loses connection when the controller vibrates and now it seems that it won't even charge it because no matter how long I leave it attached, the controlled always says it has no charge.

Anyone ever had problems with the cables? Or is it perhaps the controller starting to fail?

 

[J Tyran]

Is it a Sony cable? Or a long USB cable from a 3rd party? If its a long USB cable some of those have signal repeaters in and that might cause a problem with charging a device with it. Otherwise it could be a problem with the cable, if it got yanked or something wires could be damaged inside.

Try connecting it to a PC and see if the cable works fine then, use a phone or something. If its fine then it might be the controller. Try charging the controller from a PC too, or a phone charger that uses a USB socket. You do know that the PS3 wont charge a device in sleep mode as well? If you are leaving it overnight or something thinking it will charge it wont unfortunately.

 

[DarkishFriend]

I know the cord works because it allows the controller to connect, but doesn't charge it.

 

[SpAc3man]

If it is an overly cheap one you may be getting too much power loss over the long cable. This can prevent the controller from charging properly. This is my guess from a computer/electrical engineering student's point of view. I don't actually own a PS3.

 

[Frezzato]

snip

I thought my PS3 controller went bad when it wouldn't charge but it turned out to be the mini USB cable I was using. I have maybe 4 or 5 of those cables so I just found a working one.

If you have to buy one I suggest getting a 6-foot mini USB cable from Amazon, the Amazon Basics brand. They sell great cables.

 

[J Tyran]

I know the cord works because it allows the controller to connect, but doesn't charge it.

Just try some different cables, I don't know about controllers but in the case of phones and devices like that it can be pretty random which cables will fully function. Sometimes data can be transferred but they will not charge, other times the reverse happens and they charge but you cant transfer data. Then you have other cases where they just wont work at all yet the cable works with other stuff and sometimes they work but sync software and things will simply not work with a particular cable for no discernible reason.

Try charging the controller with another cable and then another device, use your PC/notebook or a USB mains charger if you have one and finally try swapping sockets on the PS3 itself. This way you can see if its a problem with the cable, with the controller or the PS3/socket on the PS3.

 

[Nieroshai]

Nope. Never a problem. The USB cable continues to function as a USB cable, and is exactly what a USB cable should be. It connects, power and signal flows.

 

[Tallim]

I know the cord works because it allows the controller to connect, but doesn't charge it.

As far as I'm aware a plugged in PS3 controller doesn't transfer data through the cable, all it actually does is provide power for the controller to work via the normal wireless. If you have trouble with many cables it could be several things.

The jack for the controller or the usb port on the ps3 are dodgy.

The ps3 controller battery is just starting to fail or has developed a memory for recharging whereby it no longer fully charges properly which can be a problem with rechargeable devices.

Try recharging it from the usb port in your computer, I've done that a lot as my laptop is right next to where I sit for playing PS3 anyway.

 

[DarkishFriend]

After hooking it up to my computer and it not doing anything I'm pretty sure it's the cord so I ordered a new one from Amazon.

Also, if you buy a Dualshock controller from Sony does it come with it's own usb cable in the box?

 

[Frezzato]

...if you buy a Dualshock controller from Sony does it come with it's own usb cable in the box?

It's been my experience that you generally do NOT get mini USB cables with dual shock controllers bought separately. Besides, I think the Sony-supplied cables are only a few feet long, so I would just get decent 6-ft. cables on your own. I also sometimes use my 5-foot mini USB with an AmazonBasics 3-meter (9.8 feet) USB extension cable, which again, works perfect.