Valve Steam Controller Puck Short-Circuits Metal Watch Band as Live Pins Stay Exposed
Updated
Updated · PC Gamer · May 22
Valve Steam Controller Puck Short-Circuits Metal Watch Band as Live Pins Stay Exposed
6 articles · Updated · PC Gamer · May 22
A Reddit user said Valve's Steam Controller charging puck made a metallic smartwatch strap sizzle after the band briefly touched the dock's exposed charging pins.
The report says those pins remain live whenever the puck is plugged in, even with the controller removed, allowing conductive metal to trigger a short circuit.
PC Gamer said the design is not unique to Valve, noting 8BitDo's Ultimate 2 dock also shows constant voltage across its contacts as a cheaper charging approach.
Valve's manual already warns that metallic objects can be attracted to the magnetic puck and cause sparks, but the latest report argues clearer on-device or online warnings may still be needed.
Could your metal watch band turn a common charging puck into a dangerous fire hazard?
In an age of smart devices, why are our chargers still so dangerously simple?