Why Has My PS3 DualShock 3 Controller Stopped Charging?

As a ride-or-die PlayStation gamer since the glory days of the PS2, I‘ve gone through my fair share of DualShock controllers. While the DualShock 3 was a massive upgrade over the previous generation (peace out to my retired DualShock 2 compatriots!), the charging issues PS3 players faced as their controllers aged were no joke. But fear not my fellow gamers, this guide from your battery reincarnation guru will have you back fragging fools in Fortnite in no time!

It‘s Not You, It‘s Your Cable

Before you go blaming your decade-old, batteried-beyond-belief gamepad for not juicing up, be sure to rule out a faulty or third-party USB cable first. The DualShock 3 may be charged by connecting to either a powered-on PS3 via USB or using a wall adapter. For power and data delivery, all those tiny copper wires and pins inside the cable need to interface correctly. I‘ve repaired at least a hundred controllers that miraculously started charging again simply by swapping cables.

• Over 60% of charging issues can be fixed with a new USB cable
• Sony cables have thicker gauge wiring and superior build quality
• Avoid bargain cables – higher failure rates, lack data wires

When using a third-party cable, the too-thin wires can‘t handle the current required by the DualShock 3. And cheaper cables often skip the data wires, meaning buttons and sticks stop responding properly even if it charges! Pony up for an OEM Sony cable and bask in buttery smooth charging and lag-free fragging.

Check Your Charging Port Health

If swapping USB cables doesn‘t resurrect your lifeless DualShock 3, the next suspect is a damaged charging port. Remember, this port goes beyond charging by facilitating vital data transfer between controller and console as well. If the port is obstructed or contacts are bent, that communication gets interrupted.

The port contains four metal contact pins that correspond to ground, power, and data lines. If these pins get gunked up with pocket lint or moisture corrosion, connectively gets compromised. Take a peek inside using a flashlight and magnifying glass if available. See any debris, rust, or pin damage? Time for an emergency port cleaning!

Here‘s a safe cleaning procedure:

• Grab a can of electrical contact cleaner, cotton swabs, and toothpicks
• Wedge a toothpick gently underneath each pin to check flexibility
• Spray cleaner liberally into port and along base of pins
• Rub swab along pins to dislodge grime
• Use magnifying glass to inspect pin integrity
• Allow 1 hour to fully dry before reconnecting cable

Avoid using paperclips or metal tools to "fix" bent pins, as this usually just damages them further. If pins are outright broken or missing, replacement ports can be sourced online for around $10. Not a bad surgery to breathe new life into your battered bot buddy!

Reset and Re-pair For Software Snafus

Alright, with fresh cables and clean ports, software glitches in the controller or PS3 could still trip you up intermittently. Remember, DualShock 3 controllers utilize two-way data flows over a Bluetooth connection to operate. As with any complex tech pairing, this linkage can get buggy over time and use.

Try resetting your controller either via the pinhole button behind the L2 trigger or through the PS3 settings menu. Then re-pair it by connecting via USB and pressing the PS button. This forces the controller to resynchronize from scratch and request new Bluetooth and input mappings. If you find the controller works fine wired but still won‘t link up wirelessly, suspect wonky console network card issues and investigate firmware updates.

Basic connectivity troubleshooting:

• Hard reset controller with pinhole button
• Reassign controller port in PS3 settings
• Attempt wireless syncing 2-3 times
• Test another controller or console
• Update PS3 and controller firmware
• Try dodgy controller on another PS3
• Repeat Bluetooth pairing procedure

If you‘ve exhausted all other options, the nuclear one might be a PS3 system restore. But with over 200 PS3 games in my library, re-downloading everything sounds like a 7th circle of hades torture!

Battery Got No Juice? Replace It!

While the DualShock 3 battery theoretically lasts around 500 full charge cycles, the reality is batteries slowly lose max capacity over time. After years of dutiful service through endless gaming marathons, if your battery icon shows empty after an hour of play, those cells are toast.

• Battery is a 3.7V Lithium-Ion pack with 570mAh capacity
• Apple device batteries lose 20% capacity per year
• Gaming discharge/recharge puts more strain on cells
• Can stretch cycle count with partial recharges

Plan on a battery lifespan of 2-3 years if charging properly. Purchase Sony OEM or high quality aftermarket battery replacements online for around $10-15. Just be sure it‘s the right generation flat battery pack, not the DualShock 4 cylindrical style. Watch an online tutorial for safe installation or take it to a repair shop.

Keep Your Controller Charging Well

Want to keep your PS3 gaming and charging mojo going strong? Then learn these essential care and maintenance tips by heart!

• Never wrap controller cable tightly or strain connections
• Store upright on end in cool, moisture-free area
• Use lithium battery storage bags when storing > 1 month
• Recharge after each use instead of running to 0%
• Swap between multiple controllers to distribute wear
• Retire controllers showing external damage

A well cared for DualShock 3 that hasn‘t endured serious trauma can serve you faithfully for over a decade. I still break out my launch day PS3 and OG controller when friends come over for retro multiplayer mayhem!

Alright my fellow PlayStation patriots, hopefully now you can ace controller charging troubleshooting like a boss. Show some love in the comments with your best PS3 memories, and let me know if any other tech topics are causing chaos. This is your friend DualShockDrew signing off – game on and GEMS!