Vive Controller won't charge

[drumdave]

Preface: Finally received delivery of highly anticipated HTC Vive. Very happy me.

1. Set up brand new Vive
2. Everything connected except one controller (Controller B)
3. Controller needed firmware update
4. Controller connected! Followed by 2 hours of bliss.
5. Controller A = 75% battery. Controller B = 0% battery.
6. Charge both controllers overnight.
7. Next morning, Controller A = 100% battery. Controller B = 0% battery.
8. Skip work. Frantically search support and forums...try every suggestion. Reluctantly try charging Controller B overnight again.
9. Next 2 days of scouring depths of Internet for anyone with similar issue...no dice.

Conclusion: Simply a bad controller?
Result: Very sad me.

[--ranXerox--]

I can help you. It's not hard. Try to repair bluetooth. If it's not working, hit me up and we can chat over what's working and not. Check if radios are working in developing section of steam vr app

[drumdave]

Thank you for you willingness to help!
So when you say "Try to repair bluetooth", do you mean the bluetooth radio in my computer? I have reinstalled that adapter. However, I can't attempt to connect one of the controllers because it won't even power on. It appears it won't hold a charge.

[LeakySandwich]

I feel your pain man! I have a (kinda) similar problem...
I received my Vive a week ago, unboxed and set up - yet one controller does not want to turn on at all.
I tried all the reset and/or button combinations, charging, plugging into PC etc - controller stays dead, cannot charge and cannot be turned on.

I've been trying to get a hold of VIVE support for the past week. Initially someone from HTC support helped me troubleshoot, but it was escalated to VIVE support - to this day still NO feedback or assistance from either, even though i've been trying to contact them daily via livechat and support mail.
Nothing.
I've resulted to spamming HTC/VIVE people on social media to try to get around their atrocious support, but only a glimmer of hope as of today. (still no resolution though)

All i need is the RMA details to get this fixed!

The VIVE 'experience' is extremely limited with just one controller - and many games see my working controller as the left hand one, which cannot be changed - thus the 'main' hand is unavailable and many games requires the right hand controller to work (eg
*Brookhaven: left hand=flashlight only
*Job Sim: 'menu button' only registers on right hand controller,
etc)

Why HTC never thought of a "SWITCH HANDS" button is beyond me...

So yes - VERY frustrated and disappointed with HTC support >:(

[drumdave]

Dang, that's not good news. Thanks for the extensive response detailing the steps you've taken. I've only sent an email to HTC support and have yet to hear back from them.

Since it appears I'm a good week behind you in this process, I would be very grateful if you could update me with any progress you find.

In the mean time, it looks like I'm going to be doing a great deal of "throw the stick, pet the dog" in The Lab.

[Inimitable Wolf]

It sounds like I'm in the same boat as you guys, my workaround for the time being is to use a remote battery pack (The type with a couple of USB ports to charge your phone out and about) whilst I try and get Vive to RMA the faulty one.

[epworth]

I have the exact same problem only for me the controller worked fine for about two weeks then just died the lights will no longer come on cant charge the controller at all. Figured i wouldnt get anywhere through email or online chat so i just called there support line. Called and was talking with a support guy in matter of minutes i couldnt believe it ended up spending about two hours on the phone with him trying to fix it he finally gave up and rma'd it. Had the email within a few minutes with all the info and shipped it out that day. The controller has been out for a week now i have no idea when ill get it back i was told on the phone 7-10 days but i highly doubt that. So ya i think your best bet is to skip the email and online chat and just call there support line.

[MilkMaster72]

I don't know the differences between controller A and B, probably because, there exactly the same, but I know that on the SteamVR Status, it says controller 1 (closest remote icon to the left) is not charged, but the one closest to the right is charged. Also after looking through a Reddit post I went back and it was fully charged, unplugged it, then it was back down to zero percent. I'm gonna guess that controller B is the second one, so I guess it doesn't matter which controller is not working, or if the USB is faulty. Also controller B, or the second one, is fully charged and operational.

[vacatedchief]

Hey, did you end up resolving this? I have the same issue as you

[graemeevans1986]

the battery is connected in the controller with a little connector. if it doesnt come on at all unless its plugged in via usb then the battery is probably not connected inside. Up to you if you want to open it up and fix it yourself. incase its not that htc might be more of a pain about fixing it after you have opened it. even though they have no legal right to be, as the "waranty void if removed" stickers are meaningless.

[LeakySandwich]

Originally posted by vacatedchief:

Hey, did you end up resolving this? I have the same issue as you

Yeah, a while ago - but i had to send the controller back for RMA... i did not want to void warranty by trying to see if i can fix it myself. Hope you get it sorted.

[TickleMeSenpai]

So I had this same issue, tried all the steps and it still wasn't working so knowing that my controller is long outta warranty open it up and I found some liquid damage from a droplet of sweat seeping through a crack. it ended up corroding some surface mount capacitors near the battery connector. while I don't have full schematics given it was near the battery likely means that continuity was lost between the battery and charge circuitry. if the previous options don't work, your controller is out of warranty, and you have the tools necessary to do a teardown it could be recoverable.

[LorKh4]

Mine turns dead during charging, connect to PC doesn't power on either. Then I tried these steps to reset and it works!
Resetting The Controller: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamVR/Troubleshooting

[Dir Grobbman]

Originally posted by LorKhan:

Mine turns dead during charging, connect to PC doesn't power on either. Then I tried these steps to reset and it works!
Resetting The Controller: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamVR/Troubleshooting

this worked for me as well, thanks.