PSA – Valve’s Steam Controller Puck Could Try to Charge Your Metal Watch Strap, to Dramatic Effect
Valve’s Steam Controller charging puck poses a significant safety hazard due to its exposed, always-live electrical contacts. A Reddit user discovered this risk when a metallic smartwatch strap accidentally made contact with the puck while both devices were charging nearby, causing both the watch charger and puck to become visibly scorched.
The puck’s exposed contacts remain powered at all times, meaning any conductive material that touches them risks receiving an electrical shock or triggering a short circuit. While such exposed contacts are not uncommon in electronics, the design choice represents a notable safety oversight for a premium-priced product like the Steam Controller.
Valve’s Steam Hardware team has already responded to the incident, contacting the affected user and offering a replacement puck while collecting the damaged hardware for investigation. The company’s swift reaction suggests it recognizes this as a legitimate design concern warranting further examination. The incident serves as a public service announcement for other Steam Controller owners to exercise caution and keep conductive materials—particularly metal watch straps and similar objects—well clear of the puck’s exposed contacts while charging.