Current leakage from the charging port of a Valve Steam Controller can cause electric shock

Steam Controller: a successful product with a dangerous charging feature

Valve managed to turn the Steam Controller into a popular gaming console despite its relatively high price and some software shortcomings. The device comes with an integrated charger that keeps the controller “ready” for use at any moment.

However, that same charger turned out to be potentially hazardous.

On Reddit, a user noticed that when the controller is plugged in, power remains on even after it’s removed from the holder. Small metal contacts on the connector do not disconnect and continue to supply current. The owner of the controller tested this: touching those contacts with a smartwatch strap (with a magnetic clasp and a metal element) caused the charger to try to “charge” the strap, resulting in a short circuit and a squealing noise.

This problem is not unique to Valve. Many manufacturers cut costs on charger components to keep prices low, sometimes forgetting about safety. The design could be improved by adding an additional contact, as seen in the 12 VHPWR power connectors of recent Nvidia graphics cards.

It’s unclear whether Valve mentioned the risk associated with the charger in the controller’s manual. If such a point is missing, it should be added to the documentation – otherwise the company may face legal claims from users.