PS3 controller won't hold a charge?

[sabrage]

New batteries are $12-$16.

That's ridiculous, considering I paid only $30 for the controller. Might send it in yet. It's not like I have any friends who give a damn about gaming anyways.

[Niode]

Ah the joys of 'consumable' goods... So glad Microsoft didn't decide to screw over their customers and provided replaceable batteries.

[sabrage]

Well, my Microsoft rechargeable can't hold a charge worth shit either. They drain themselves when I'm not even using them. Still haven't done anything about my PS3 problem; it's my extra controller and I'm lazy.

[Niode]

Well, my Microsoft rechargeable can't hold a charge worth shit either. They drain themselves when I'm not even using them. Still haven't done anything about my PS3 problem; it's my extra controller and I'm lazy.

Oh mine are the same but at least you don't have to take the controller apart and replace the battery with a soldering iron...

[ZenErik]

Pretty sure you don't have to solder with the PS3 controller battery. Someone posted the ifixit guide earlier.

I just use rechargeables from eBay on my 360 controllers. The official Microsoft ones didn't last long enough and had disconnecting issues for me after a few hours of use.

[CRTGAMER]

Even though an easy to take apart changeout, the average consumer would just toss the PS3 controller and buy another. What a pain, why not an easy to pop off compartment to swap a battery? A search found replacement PS3 batteries at only a couple of bucks, but then no idea of the reliability or risk of leakage.

I hate rechargables, I want to use a device that is always ready with reliable akaline batteries. If the batteries run out, fresh batteries are easily popped in and back to gameplay immediately and not waiting on a charger. So glad the Wii supports standard sized AA batteries with a chargable option, every controller should have gone this route.

[isiolia]

I hate rechargables, I want to use a device that is always ready with reliable akaline batteries. If the batteries run out, fresh batteries are easily popped in and back to gameplay immediately and not waiting on a charger. So glad the Wii supports standard sized AA batteries with a chargable option, every controller should have gone this route.

The 360 does that too, the PS3 is the exception really.

Realistically, the worst-case scenario is playing with the controller over USB. While it can be a pain, it's not exactly something that comes up that often. Especially if, like some of us, you leave your PS3 controllers plugged in and use the PS3 to watch Blu-rays n' such. I've never had a time when I picked up a PS3 controller and it was dead...but I've gone digging for AAs quite often when I'm playing the Wii for the first time in a while.

[sabrage]

Well I feel dumb. Make sure you're not attempting to charge your controllers with a data-only cable, kids.

I only realized when my other controller wasn't holding a charge and I thought "You gotta be shitting me." At least I didn't waste money on a new battery. (Shows how much I've been playing my PS3 that it took this long to figure out the problem... I did charge my other controller via my computer a few times)

[Hobie-wan]

WTF? Why would someone bother making a USB cable that's missing 2 of the wires since there are only 4 to begin with? That kind of destroys the whole 'universal' standard part of USB.

[sabrage]

I have no idea. I threw the cable in question away since it was about 2 feet long and completely useless. I'm not even sure where it came from; I have way too many cords in my room. It just never occurred to me that the cable may be the problem because battery failures seem fairly common with the PS3 controller.