VideoGame_Discussion

Topic USB Hub to charge controllers

Scott

14-Mar-2023(#1)

Does anyone use a USB hub for charging their various controllers and accessories? I usually just plug the provided USB cable into a USB port on the back of each system. But, the Wii U has always been a an issue since it only charges while the system is on. I prefer to plug controllers in after a playing session and let them charge to full that way. Also, I recently upgrade to the Skull & Co grip, and while I love the grip itself, it blocks the 2 USB ports on the side of the dock when it's docked, so I can no longer leave a cable plugged in there for charging. I'm starting to think it would make sense to just set up some kind of USB hub. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good one?

BucketofJustice

14-Mar-2023(#2)

I use a power block and cable to charge my controllers. It’s worked pretty great. I’m sure any decent block and cord will work well.

Scott

14-Mar-2023(#3)

BucketofJustice wrote:

> I use a power block and cable to charge my controllers. It’s worked pretty great.

> I’m sure any decent block and cord will work well.

Is "power block" a specific brand or something?

nonamesleft

14-Mar-2023(#4)

I've wanted to do something like that for awhile, but I'm hesitant in terms of the power output/input damaging the batteries of the controllers/devices that I would charge. Maybe I'm being overly cautious? I don't know.

sa330206

14-Mar-2023(#5)

PS3 is the same way and will only charge when the console is on. Super annoying!

BucketofJustice

14-Mar-2023(#6)

Scott wrote:

> BucketofJustice wrote:

>> I use a power block and cable to charge my controllers. It’s worked pretty great.

>> I’m sure any decent block and cord will work well.

> Is "power block" a specific brand or something?

No. Just the power block you used to get from buying a cell phone. I’m using the one I got from an old Samsung.

Foxhack

15-Mar-2023(#7)

nonamesleft wrote:

> I've wanted to do something like that for awhile, but I'm hesitant in terms of the

> power output/input damaging the batteries of the controllers/devices that I would

> charge. Maybe I'm being overly cautious? I don't know.

A good quality charger won't damage your devices. Or shouldn't, anyway. They're USB, it's not like you're going to send 20 volts or something. :)

Scott

15-Mar-2023(#8)

I'm considering something like this, but I'm still researching:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&lo...

I would prefer something that has an AC cord to power itself, instead of USB.

Scott

15-Mar-2023(#9)

Found one with an AC adapter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&lo...

The number of ports on it is overkill, but that's ok. They'll probably fail over time so there will be plenty of backups!

nonamesleft

15-Mar-2023(#10)

Foxhack wrote:

> nonamesleft wrote:

>> I've wanted to do something like that for awhile, but I'm hesitant in terms of

> the

>> power output/input damaging the batteries of the controllers/devices that I would

>> charge. Maybe I'm being overly cautious? I don't know.

> A good quality charger won't damage your devices. Or shouldn't, anyway. They're USB,

> it's not like you're going to send 20 volts or something. :)

I generally try just to use original chargers with the devices they were packaged with. Again, maybe I'm being overly cautious. But I'd rather be careful than end up regretting it. But you do have a point. Most chargers aren't outputting a huge amount of volts.

Scott

15-Mar-2023(#11)

@nonamesleft I was the same way for the longest time, but I've been easing up about stuff like that over the last couple years.

nonamesleft

15-Mar-2023(#12)

Scott wrote:

> @nonamesleft I was the same way for the longest time, but I've been easing up about

> stuff like that over the last couple years.

Same here, with certain things. It reaches a point where it's just too inconvenient to try to "do it all." And it's actually a breath of fresh air for certain things. You find that it's just easier to do the more convenient thing.

Scott

15-Mar-2023(#13)

Exactly

benstylus

15-Mar-2023(#14)

Scott wrote:

> @nonamesleft I was the same way for the longest time, but I've been easing up about

> stuff like that over the last couple years.

I did a bit of reddit reading a while back, and the agreement there is you want the voltage to match, and the amperage on the adapter to be equal to or higher than the device. The device won't pull extra amperage, only what it needs. Wrong voltage can be bad though.

nonamesleft

15-Mar-2023(#15)

benstylus wrote:

> Scott wrote:

>> @nonamesleft I was the same way for the longest time, but I've been easing up

> about

>> stuff like that over the last couple years.

> I did a bit of reddit reading a while back, and the agreement there is you want the

> voltage to match, and the amperage on the adapter to be equal to or higher than the

> device. The device won't pull extra amperage, only what it needs. Wrong voltage

> can be bad though.

How do I know how many amps a given device needs? I don't see any indication on the devices themselves.

Frank

* 16-Mar-2023(#16)

nonamesleft wrote:

> benstylus wrote:

>> Scott wrote:

> |>> @nonamesleft I was the same way for the longest time, but I've been easing up

>> about

> |>> stuff like that over the last couple years.

>> I did a bit of reddit reading a while back, and the agreement there is you want

> the

>> voltage to match, and the amperage on the adapter to be equal to or higher than

> the

>> device. The device won't pull extra amperage, only what it needs. Wrong voltage

>> can be bad though.

> How do I know how many amps a given device needs? I don't see any indication on the

> devices themselves.

A quick Google search per device should net you some info.

I've been the same way, using my devices on their original Chargers (except for some handheld devices, which I got a universal cable for years ago)

@Scott if you get that $30 adapter, let me know how it works for you. Reviews seem pretty mixed. I definitely don't think I'd want to use it on a PC, but for the purpose of charging multiple devices, I do like the sound of that!

Scott

16-Mar-2023(#17)

The reviews look very solid to me. 4.5 average, 75% 5 star, 13% 4 star, and only 6% 1 star. Doesn't get much better than that on Amazon.

Frank

* 16-Mar-2023(#18)

Scott wrote:

> The reviews look very solid to me. 4.5 average, 75% 5 star, 13% 4 star, and only

> 6% 1 star. Doesn't get much better than that on Amazon.

I just don't trust Amazon reviews much anymore. Despite Amazon's efforts, there's still a lot of paid reviews. Or maybe paid is the wrong word, but the reviews made to gain a free item or refund.

Companies are STILL including those $5 voucher for positive review in with their products. Just last year something I bought had one.

Scott

16-Mar-2023(#19)

ReviewMeta gives it a 4.5 as well, so the reviews seem pretty reliable in this case. I should be snagging this before the end of the month, so I'll reply back here with my thoughts.

Renaissance2K

17-Mar-2023(#20)

I just bought this one a week or so ago:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&lo...

I also have two of these, but they're not available anymore:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&lo...

I don't recommend this one. Something about the power port is under engineered, and it feels flimsy. I had one flat-out break.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&lo...

I'd also highly, highly recommend the Nyko Charge Block setup, if you're mostly dealing with modern controllers. They double as controller stands, work with a bunch of different consoles, and the bases themselves connect together seamlessly for a clean setup. For Xbox One and Xbox Series controllers, rechargeable batteries. Other controllers just use dongles that clip onto the power port.

Scott

17-Mar-2023(#21)

Ended up going with this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&lo...

It has less of the QC ports which I don't need, and more regular USB 3.0 ports instead.