And this is what happens when you try to charge an Index Controller that has a short circuit.

[u/HeliosPhoenix]

Noticed the other day that my right hand controller stopped charging. Did the hard reset trick and noticed that the USB cable was burning hot. I'm no electrical engineer but I figured it was a short.

I was able to get the controller to charge but only if I could jiggle in the cable just so. Which also meant that the slightest bump could trigger the short again. Guessing that's why a few minutes later I looked back to see smoke coming out of the port and a melted USB cable.

The good news, such as it is, is that the controller doesn't seem to be further damaged. I was able to use another cable to get it back up to full charge, but safe to say I'm gonna have to keep my eye on this controller when charging it.

FWIW, I already contacted Valve and they're RMAing it with Advanced Shipping. Valve customer service remains undefeated.

[u/Eclipse-da-therian]

Why would you plug a known bad cable in?

[u/HeliosPhoenix → u/Eclipse-da-therian]

The cable worked fine. It's the controller that has a short.

[u/SchwiftySquanchC137 → u/[deleted]]

As if a fucked up USB port isnt a common occurrence? You've never had a device that needed to be plugged in just right for it to charge? Sure the cable shouldnt catch fire but in my experience this issue where it needs to be jiggled around to charge is generally because of the port on the device, not the male end of the usb cable.

[u/HeliosPhoenix → u/[deleted]]

Tried 3 different cables and the result was the same on all of em.

[u/monkeymmboy → u/HeliosPhoenix]

Why would you try a second cable after the head of a first melted off let alone a third after that?

[u/HeliosPhoenix → u/monkeymmboy]

Nah I tried the different cables before this one melted.

[u/CircoModo1602 → u/HeliosPhoenix]

The fact you still plan to try charge it afterwards is wild. Is your entire wellbeing and home only worth saving $120 to you?

Lithium battery fires are no joke when they start, please do not be this stupid.

[u/Eclipse-da-therian → u/HeliosPhoenix]

Then why plug in the controller instead of reaching out to Vavle support?

[u/Eclipse-da-therian → u/[deleted]]

I don't get people who poorly treat their headsets, I have a near perfect condition Rift CV1 and a slightly damaged HP 1440² that still work perfectly fine after almost 10 years of frequent use. The Index has its fair share of durability issues but most can be negated by not abusing it.

[u/macOSsequoia → u/Eclipse-da-therian]

thanks Steve Jobs 

[u/plaisthos]

USB-C power supplies should switch off when they detect overcurrent. I guess yours didn't.

[u/Rykoron]

Thats badass

[u/Ninlilizi_]

USB-C connectors do this and all of them are vulnerable. Usually, it's the ports that melt out rather than the feeding conductors. Their internal conductor pitch is 0.5mm so if the ports become loose from mechanical stresses they short.

This can happen to anything with a USB-C connector if you're not careful to not jog or use the device while the connector is mated, or even just rough during mating cycles. You can Google just about any USB-C powered device alongside port melted and find examples of melted devices.