Usa Device Repair From Using Uk Voltage

[KFH]

My neighbor did the same with an special vacuum cleaner she got from America, I looked at for her but the motor was ruined.

I knew an American salesman who was working over here, he said when back in his home town he was talking to an old school friend who on hearing he was working in London said "Gee, fantastic, do they speak English over there?"

 

[Triiickie]

I had a further development on this. A step in the right direction perhaps from the company in China. I have yet investigate further but anybody any idea what costs would be in involved in such a PCB main board? here is the email I received:

Further to your prescription below, the product had been connected (in UK) and out of astonishment, a " Pop " sound was heard. I believe that due to the voltage difference (sudden surge of voltage), the Main PCBhad breakdown, result the product was not operating now.

In order for the product to be resumed back to its original function, replacement of the Main PCB is required.

* C322XX - XX - A107 Main PCB


For Spare part Optional : -
1. You can try check with USA whether do they have Main PCB available for your repair.
2. SG HQ do not have this Main PCB (110V) available, we need to order from factory which lead time may take 120 days exclude the shipment
mode of parts.

For Technical Optional : -
1. You can ask your electrical repair specialist to assist in replacing the Main PCB. Ask your Technician to have a look on the product
first whether is he able to dismantle. If not, it may worsen the situation.

 

[DPG]

How on earth could we know what a main board for this product is going to cost to buy???? Daz

 

[Darkwood]

You ask alot of questions we couldn't possibly know without investigating hands on ourselves ... you equipment will have some form of transformer and possible rectified voltage, as you fed into twice the voltage the ouput of the transformer will also have been double and rightly as already mentioned you have probably blown a smoothing capacitor but its what damage the high voltage will ave done to the pcb is all down to the product itself and as they suggest this is to be replaced i fear you have wiped out everything from the transformer to the pcb... its down to you to source and get a price on the pcb but i would suggest you have a new power supply fitted more freindly to our voltage this time .... whether its worth the extra cost is your call but id just take it as a hard lesson learned and buy a uk freindly version.

 

[Stroppy]

"out of astonishment"

 

[ayjay]

still won,t work properly on 50hz anyway

 

[Triiickie]

Hi

It has been a while since I originally posted my problem on here. I have eventually managed to open the device and get to the main PCB. If you see the image below, I can see a fuse (is that a good sign?) which looks burnt. I'm just wondering what the general thoughts are of users on here. If it has a fuse, does this mean that the surge won't have passed this and i'm lucky the motor won't be affected? I may look in to getting the fuse replaced and whilst at it, change the transformer to 240v and uk plug. hoping it will work.

 

[DPG]

Fuse has gone with quite a bang there! Nothing to lose in changing the fuse and trying again I suppose. Worse that will happen is that it will blow again (fairly instantly judging by the colour of it!). Despite the fuse blowing, this doesn't mean other things haven't been affected also though. When you say change the transformer - which transformer are you changing? I though you were just using a travel adaptor? Daz

 

[Darkwood]

Fuses protect current flow, the voltage will have done the damage before the current then shotup to blow the fuse, i would have a guess the transformer needs replacing and any device connected directly to the output of the transformer that is sensitive to voltage will be damaged.... as already mentioned it will require testing ...we cant help you any further through a website.... Personally i would take it on the chin and lesson learnt , unless you know a keen DIY electronics enthusiast then bin it, or try source a new replacement board which is rated for uk voltage.

 

[Triiickie]

I spoke to a specialist at electronicsrepair.org who said he could change the fuse, change the transformer (yellow box next to fuse?) and change filter? my knowledge is rubbish.

 

[Darkwood]

This may work but the transformer by its nature transforms the input voltage to the circuit board voltage ...what you have done is double the input voltage and retrospectively this will double the output voltage to the circuit board where you have numerous voltage sensitive devices including the Computer Chip i see on the left ....if this got over voltage then you can forget it its fried.

 

[Triiickie]

Thanks Darkwood for you comment. I have found a keen specialist who will look at it for me. I am just trying to evaluate the pros and cons and learnt a lot already such as the fuse is current, not voltage etc. The devices HQ in Singapore have told me that they can send me a new PCB for $21 plus courier and labour (not sure what the labour is). So may try replace the fuse etc and failing that, get new PCB. Just hoping it never damaged the motor. After that, will take it in the chin. It's a nice little project though so at least learning lots.

 

[Darkwood]

As it probably blew as you switched the power on was unlikely to be in run mode thus motor will be ok .... request new board ask for it to be uk voltage friendly .... the labour is for them to fit new transformer and filter i assume as its probably not for uk market..... the only risk here i you have an item designed for another market and may not meet requirements for the UK market that's why you shouldn't import your own electrical goods.

 

[DPG]

$21 is a bargain for a replacement PCB - it's probably worth a punt for that. If that doesn't work, chuck the whole thing in the bin. Daz

 

[chilliwilly]

If and when you get it repaired, (but probably cheaper to replace), a standard 230/240v-110v step down transformer will suffice to supply it. The 120 volts 60hz design voltage will be compensated by a 10 volts difference in the 110v 50hz transformer commonly used with power tools on condstruction sites in the UK. A 120v 50hz transformer could cause the power supply unit to overheat and eventually risk burning out. But if your having it repaired over here, they will probably use a power supply that can be plugged straight into the UK mains, but then you will have the same problem if you take it back over to the US with you!

 

[Triiickie]

I would probably go with the repair here and convert to UK power supply. I would have no interest in taking it back to the US as I only go there on vacation.

 

[Triiickie]

If or when I get it fixed. I will post again to say what was done to it. fingers crossed! HQ say new PCB would be 60 days.

 

[Darkwood]

If you get a young attractive girlfriend you can throw the massager in the bin ....although in the long run they are very expensive to maintain.:smilewinkgrin:

 

[Brightspark2]

girlfriend

Whats that?...you mean theres more to life than electricity and this forum!?...

I'm just not ready for that...

 

[ian.settle1]

I had a further development on this. A step in the right direction perhaps from the company in China. I have yet investigate further but anybody any idea what costs would be in involved in such a PCB main board? here is the email I received:

Further to your prescription below, the product had been connected (in UK) and out of astonishment, a " Pop " sound was heard. I believe that due to the voltage difference (sudden surge of voltage), the Main PCBhad breakdown, result the product was not operating now.

In order for the product to be resumed back to its original function, replacement of the Main PCB is required.

* C322XX - XX - A107 Main PCB


For Spare part Optional : -
1. You can try check with USA whether do they have Main PCB available for your repair.
2. SG HQ do not have this Main PCB (110V) available, we need to order from factory which lead time may take 120 days exclude the shipment
mode of parts.

For Technical Optional : -
1. You can ask your electrical repair specialist to assist in replacing the Main PCB. Ask your Technician to have a look on the product
first whether is he able to dismantle. If not, it may worsen the situation.

What was it you was asking for some sort of medicine made from Tiger Penis?