So, after reading a lot of posts and having some interesting conversations with my friends, I thought it would be nice to gather information about PS3 controller charging.

I found out that there are quite a few different ways to charge your PS3 controller.

Best Ways to Charge a PS3 Controller Without a PS3 

The Dualshock 3 uses a mini USB cable and can be charged via the USB port of your PC, Mac, or laptop. 

Alternatively, you can get a dedicated charger from a third-party brand on Amazon.

So, let’s tackle these options one by one:

1- Charge Your PS3 Controller Using Your PC

The PS3 controller includes an internal rechargeable battery that must be charged before you can use it. 

The controller comes with its own charging cable, although your PS3 might not be plugged into a power outlet. 

Fortunately, there is the alternative of charging your PS3 controller by plugging it directly into your PC’s USB port instead.

Step 1: Turn on Your PC

Turn on your computer so that it begins to boot up and deliver power to your controller.

Step 2: Connect Your PS3 Controller Cable

Firmly plug the mini-USB end into the port on your PS3 controller.

Step 3: Connect the Controller to your PC

Locate an open USB port on your PC and plug the other end of your PS3 controller charging cable directly into it.

You should know that four red lights will flash, provided the PS3 controller is turned off, showing you that it’s charging.

2- Get a Dedicated PS3 Controller Charger

The best charger I can recommend aside from the official one, provided you can find it, is made by YCCTEAM.

The charger provides a great way to charge and organize your controllers, while keeping your gaming room uncluttered.

They’re super easy to plug in and remove, and most importantly, they take up less space than other comparable options.

There’s also a nice LED light indicator that shows the charging status, switching between two colors, blue for fully charged, and red for charging. Pretty straightforward if you ask me, what else can you ask for?!

The USB cable is also included in the package, and the power delivery is rated at 5V out / 200 – 400 mAh.

3- Charge Your PS3 Controller With a Wall Charger

Did you know that you can charge your PS3 controller using a basic wall charger? It’s true, and it’s very simple to do.

If you want to play games on the PS3 without having to worry about charging your controller, then this is definitely worth trying out!

As long as you have a wall charger with at least 1A of output current (or 1000 mAh), then chances are good that it’ll work for charging your DualShock 3.

How can I tell if my charger will work? There should be a sticker on the charger that shows how much current it provides, be it 500 mAh (0.5A), 2000mAh (2.0A), or more.

So, if you have a charger with at least 1A of current (or 1000 mAh), then it’ll probably work.

As long as your wall charger contains circuitry for negotiating the USB handshake, then you should be able to plug in and use it to charge your controller.

If your wall charger doesn’t contain such circuitry, then there’s no chance that it’ll charge the controller.

It probably won’t damage anything, though, don’t take my word for it; better be safe and get a dedicated charger.

You should also read your controller’s manual to find more information about how much current it requires, as well as the different safety measures you should take to avoid damaging your battery.

How to Know if Your PS3 Controller is Charging

All you have to do is look for red lights on top of the controller. If the top of your controller is showing flashing red lights, then that’s an indication that it’s charging. If the LEDs aren’t lighting up or if the light is static, the controller is fully charged, and you can start enjoying your gaming session.

How Long Does It Take to Charge a PS3 Controller from Dead

It takes about two hours for the PlayStation 3 Controller to be fully charged, and you should be able to enjoy two weeks of gaming or roughly 28 hours in total. Do note that this is with heavy use of 2 hours per day.

PS3 Can’t Charge Controllers When in Standby Mode

In case you’re wondering, a PS3 can’t charge a controller when off. So, the only way would be to keep your PS3 on, but it’s recommended that you power it down when not in use, since it’s consuming some energy. 

A large number of USB chargers are designed for charging smartphones, but not all of them are suitable for charging your controller. Plus, a poorly built charger can cause problems with battery life or even damage it altogether.

Which is why I highly recommend a good quality charger like this one.

The lack of standby charging for peripherals isn’t a PS3 exclusive issue, but rather most electronic devices that come with a USB port won’t charge when turned off. 

Take my LG 32UD99-W monitor, for example. As beautiful as it is, the moment it goes into sleep mode, it stops delivering power via USB C to my Samsung wireless charger. 

Inconvenient? Yes! But it’s a beautiful screen nonetheless, and it’s probably saving energy that way.

Note That PS3 Controller Batteries Aren’t Removable

Some people are fine with throwing their controller away when the battery dies. But, sometimes it’s better to fix something than to replace it.

With the PS3 controller, though, you’ll need to replace the entire handheld device when its battery dies in a few years.

Thinking about buying an extra battery? Think again! The batteries inside are not removable.  

That compares unfavorably with the competition: both the Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 controllers have swappable batteries.

The Wii and Xbox 360 controllers can use rechargeable AAs. Plus, there are already third-party “extended life” packs available on sites like Amazon if your playtime is really important to you.

So, if you want to enjoy your PlayStation 3 for a long time to come and need the controller to last as well, you may be out of luck, and should probably get ready to shell out $59.99 later on Amazon or GameStop for a new controller.

Bottom Line on Charging Your PS3 Controller Other Than the PS3

In conclusion, there are numerous ways you can charge your PS3 controller other than plugging it into your PS3, from using the USB port on your computer to getting a dedicated charger, or even your regular phone charger, provided it delivers enough current to power it.

Which option will you go for?