110v to 240v psu conversion?

[scrappysphinx]

Hi all, i have just received a model 1 Japanese Saturn which of course runs on 110v. I have a UK model 1 psu which works fine but won't fit in the Japanese console due to being a different fit.

What i'm wondering is, is there a specific component that can be changed on the Japanese PSU to make it 240v tolerant?

I don't have the knowledge on this but don't mind replacing the parts if anyone can help me on what would need to be done?

If i'm being too simple and it would take more than just replacing a component then not to worry as i have a step-down converter anyway, was just more for convenience.

I can post pictures of both PSU if required

Pics of both PSU

UK PAL PSU

JAP PSU

 

[roy_bates]

post pictures of the innards of both supply's anyway mate.

 

[scrappysphinx]

Pics added to first post, they are huge pics but may not be the best quality as the only camera i have available at the moment is an iphone 5

---------- Post added at 13:54 ---------- Previous post was at 13:05 ----------

On closer inspection, just behind the fuse is a small component which seems to have blown, its like a small balloon shape and is marked V221U.

A quick google suggests this is a ZNR Surge Absorber, can anyone suggest a replacement for this part as i can't seem to locate any components labelled V221U.

 

[Gene]

Not that this will make a huge difference in regards to your problem, but Japanese voltage at least used to be 100vac. American voltage used to be 110vac in the early sixties, it has now risen to an average of 125 vac.

Probably your out of luck for the voltage conversion, unless you can find schematics for both, and they are so similar that all you have to do is change a couple of components that are not specialized, such as resistors or capacitors.

 

[ShambleS1980]

Probably wont help but i some how 1ce bought a usa xbox not knowing and when i pluged it in the psu exploded.

when i was examening it i noticed that almost all the components were rated for 120v.

to my mind if i replaced all the caps and resisters and so on i would still be left with a dc converter that could not handle the load. So i did not bother to try and convert it.

 

[roy_bates]

just looking at it,and you wont just be able to replace one part and make it 240volt.

 

[scrappysphinx]

ok guys, not to worry. I just need to replace the blown part and fuse and see if it still works at 110v then.

Thanks

 

[ShambleS1980]

thats basically what i did too. it looked to me atleast that by the time i had replaced all the parts id need to replace then all the parts would have been from a uk psu.

the blown part is probably a ceramic cap id imagine. they seem to be the things that go poof the 1st when you plug 120v in to 240v.
they do seem to go pretty fast saving the rest of the components though. prehaps thats intentional?

 

[demolition]

Normally there will be a surge protector, whose function is to short and thus burn the fuse if an overvoltage occurs before anything else is burned. In the ideal case, replacing the fuse should get it running again. And if you want continued overvoltage protection, replace the surge protector as well since it will usually be damaged from the energy it had to absorb before the fuse was burnt.

 

[roy_bates]

thats basically what i did too. it looked to me atleast that by the time i had replaced all the parts id need to replace then all the parts would have been from a uk psu.

the blown part is probably a ceramic cap id imagine. they seem to be the things that go poof the 1st when you plug 120v in to 240v.
they do seem to go pretty fast saving the rest of the components though. prehaps thats intentional?

if the caps went due to overvoltage it probably wasnt a safety feature,more like it went because it wasnt rated much more then needed to be.

 

[demolition]

The component V221U is not a ceramic cap. It is probably, like stated, a surge absorber. If it blows it means that the PSU suffered from overvoltage. Properly dimensioned it should take down the fuse, itself and nothing else. Replacing the fuse should make the PSU work again. If you can't find a replacement for the surge absorber, just remove the old one. Just know that the next time an overvoltage occurs, things will go boom without it.

Edit: For a replacement part, you might find a suitable component from another (broken?) PSU (must be same voltage and similar size/bigger).

 

[Bryce]

Hi scrappysphinx,
this is the part you need: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VARISTOR-...al_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item3f265fbcea

They are also known as "Varistors" should you be looking for one in the future.

To your original question: No. To make that PSU 240V compliant would mean replacing most of the components.

Bryce.

 

[scrappysphinx]

Thanks Bryce

 

[pafnat]

thanks. helped me for installing my new mini board.

 

[FOL]

Why not just buy a 110 to 240 adapter. Problem solved.
We used to sell them here for US customers and UK PSU.

 

[scrappysphinx]

Hi Fol, i do already have a step down converter but just wondered about the conversion for convenience more than anything else.