PS3 Controller Charging Problems

[BKABQ]

Hi everyone!

I'm kind of new to all this but I'm having some problems with using a OEM PlayStation 3 dual shock sixaxis blue tooth controller.
I'm not having a problem with using it with retropie, I'm having problems with charging it.

I plug it in via a usb connector and it never seems to charge or at least show me the LED light sequence that shows it's been fully charged.

I bought a ps3 controller off ebay and when it arrived I plugged it in to charge using the usb cable.
All that would happen was the 4 led lights would all blink in a steady pattern off and on.
I let it charge for at least 48 hours.

Now from what I know, and have read, about these controllers is that when it's fully charged the led lights should go from 4 flashing steady LED's to one steady lit LED.
This never happens to mine.

I have tried charging from my PC, from the Pi unit itself and even from a wall plug adapter, all with the same results.
It will never show the steady lit LED which states its fully charged, just the steady flashing 4 LEDS.

I even went as far as to buy a new battery for it and still the same results.
I can use the controller with the Pi while it's wired ...by usb connection, but when I try to connect via Bluetooth it is not recognized. Even if I have set it up while wired it still won't recognize it while unwired.
Yes, I have downloaded/installed the drivers and such for the pi.

But getting it connected to the Pi is not really the issue. I can do that.
I've hook up Wii Pro controllers and SNES wireless controllers and others.
It's getting the ps3 fully charged and getting the LED's to show it's fully charged.

Am I missing something?
Am I doing something wrong?

Any help would certainly be appreciated!

[Sano]

Official PS3 controllers don't have a steady led when fully charged.
When charging, the 4 leds blink together. When charged, they just turn off.
When you power on the controller, leds blink each after another while connecting, then when the controller is connected a single led is lit (depending on the assigned controller number).

PS3 controllers can't charge from a regular usb adapter. USB charging was not a standard at the time, so they need a driver (or a specific DS3 charger) to negociate and charge.

My guess is the BT pairing somewhat failed and your controller is not connected via BT.
You can easily see that if the leds blink one after another in a left-to-right-to-left pattern, then go off after a few dozen seconds.

Please follow (again ?) the doc to pair your controller :
https://retropie.org.uk/docs/PS3-Controller/
Also note that a controller can only be paired with bluetooth to one system at at time, if you associate them with another computer, you'll have to do the procedure again.

[BKABQ]

@sano "When charging, the 4 leds blink together. When charged, they just turn off."

okay ..but mine never turn off ...they just keep blinking no matter how long I have it plugged it.

"PS3 controllers can't charge from a regular usb adapter. USB charging was not a standard at the time, so they need a driver (or a specific DS3 charger) to negociate and charge."

What's a DS3 charger? Could you point to one on ebay or amazon?

Right now I'm not worried about getting it to connect to the pi I'm sure I'll have no problems when the time comes to pair it.

Thanks for replying!