• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Plug a controller into the tablet

Well I'm no expert but I think you would need some sort of android compatible driver installed on the tablet to allow the controller to function.

Also, I believe power for PS3 controllers is drawn from the console via the USB cable? If so would the nexus 7 have enough grunt to power the controller? It would require a fair bit of energy.
 
Upvote 0
Well I'm no expert but I think you would need some sort of android compatible driver installed on the tablet to allow the controller to function.

There are some drivers available for the nexus 7 that would allow me to map the buttons/sticks on the controller :).

Also, I believe power for PS3 controllers is drawn from the console via the USB cable? If so would the nexus 7 have enough grunt to power the controller? It would require a fair bit of energy.

The PS3 controller has a built-in battery. The nexus 7 USB doesn
 
Upvote 0
The nexus 7 USB doesn’t output any power, so it shouldn’t try and charge the controller or use up much battery.

That's actually not true. If it were, you basically couldn't use any USB device unless it were self-powered.

Even my 500gb platter drive gets enough power to run off the N7. I suspect the N7 is going to provide a trickle charge to your controller.

Check out this thread:

http://androidforums.com/nexus-7/589205-adventures-usb-otg-what-you-using.html

One of the guys in there is using USB OTG for his Xbox controller. You just need a USB OTG cable.
 
Upvote 0
Sorry, I don't know much about PS3 controllers ha. Ask me anything about xbox controllers and I could tell you, but PS3 is an entirely different story.

If that is the case and PS3 controllers are battery powered then you would possibly encounter issues with trickle charging. Battery companies warn not to try to recharge disposable batteries in any way, and for good reason too. I guess you could probably counter that issue by using rechargeable batteries. :)
 
Upvote 0
Sorry, I don't know much about PS3 controllers ha. Ask me anything about xbox controllers and I could tell you, but PS3 is an entirely different story.

If that is the case and PS3 controllers are battery powered then you would possibly encounter issues with trickle charging. Battery companies warn not to try to recharge disposable batteries in any way, and for good reason too. I guess you could probably counter that issue by using rechargeable batteries. :)

Wrong. The PS3 controller battery is a rechargeable lithium-ion or poly chemistry that can charge from the PS3 or any other USB source. Internal circuitry determines when to end the charge so there is no risk of overcharging.
 
Upvote 0
Wrong. The PS3 controller battery is a rechargeable lithium-ion or poly chemistry that can charge from the PS3 or any other USB source. Internal circuitry determines when to end the charge so there is no risk of overcharging.

If you had of read the first two lines of my post you would have noticed I do not own, or intend to own a PS3 controller, hence I know nothing about them. Since I was informed they were battery powered I just brought up the point that the N7 port would trickle charge whatever is connected to the miniUSB port, meaning that IF the PS3 controller did NOT have rechargeable batteries then he could encounter issues.
 
Upvote 0
Upvote 0
Upvote 0

BEST TECH IN 2023

We've been tracking upcoming products and ranking the best tech since 2007. Thanks for trusting our opinion: we get rewarded through affiliate links that earn us a commission and we invite you to learn more about us.

Smartphones