Usa Device Repair From Using Uk Voltage

[Triiickie]

Hi



I am not an electrician and would like to ask the community a question regarding a recently purchased from from the United States.



I purchased a uSqueez leg massager from the USA:

OSIM uSqueez App-Controlled Foot & Calf Massager?Buy Now!



When returning to the UK, it was plugged via a standard adaptor you can buy (why it would let you do this I really don't know) and when doing so, it work for 3 seconds then a popping sound occurred. I then realised that I needed a step down converter form the USA 110v to the UK 230v. the product was expensive at $299 and it cannot be returned to the USA as it is not covered under warantee.



Does this mean the product is totally useless now or is there a way I can fix this? Not sure if there may be an internal fuse box I could replace, or request a part from the manufacturer and get an electrician to replace? I really hope a fix is available and any recommneded electicians would be most grateful.



Any help would be greatly received.

 

[amlu]

most likely power supply in that machine will be fried. it will need someone with electronic repair skills, not an electrician.

 

[Engineer54]

I'm surprised it lasted for a few seconds!! lol!!

Now come on now, what did you really expect to happen, plugging in a 120V 60 Hz appliance into a 240V 50 Hz supply?? Don't blame the adaptor, this is totally down to you!! As stated your appliance power supply has been fried, so you'll need an electronic workshop to have any chance of repair!!

 

[Triiickie]

Hi

I don't blame the adaptor at all. I take fully responsibility for not thinking straight. I was jet lagged and I didn't sleep before opening the box. If I had to go out and purchase an adaptor I would have realised I needed a step down converter, it was just that the adaptor I did have, let me configure it so that an american plug would fit to UK socket. It should not have allowed me to do this.

So if it is just the power supply that has fried, maybe there is hope of repairing it afterall?

 

[DPG]

To be honest, your only hope is taking it to somewhere who is capable of opening it up and investigating the fault properly. It would be next to impossible to diagnose something like this remotely? Plus, you need an electonics guy, not an electrician. Daz

 

[kingeri]

You may be able to get it fixed, but it is possible that it's beyond economical repair!

 

[DPG]

You may be able to get it fixed, but it is possible that it's beyond economical repair!

That's a definate 'sitting on the fence' answer that one Daz

 

[ian.settle1]

Looks like you have wasted $299 (£200) unless you can get it repaired.

 

[Triiickie]

Thank you for the reminder :-(

 

[DPG]

Just out of interest, when you say you don't understand why it could be plugged in using a standard adaptor - what sort of standard adaptor are you referring to? Daz

 

[Triiickie]

totalmerchandise
co
uk
/uploads/product-images/world_travel_adaptor.jpg

sorry, won't let me add link but reassemble above.

 

[KFH]

Lots of power supplies, especially computer type, run on 110-240 volts and the adapters work well with these and are an essential part of a business travelers luggage.I know of others who have done the same as you even when not jet lagged, you will not be the last.

 

[DPG]

Ah, right, got you. Obvious an expensive way of finding out that these adpators don't actually convert the voltage (or the frequency for that matter). Not much help I can offer really, except for what's already been said. Daz

 

[ian.settle1]

All that device is an adapter to allow to plug into sockets off different countries but not change the voltage.

 

[DPG]

All that device is an adapter to allow to plug into sockets off different countries but not change the voltage.

We kind of said that already. Daz

 

[Engineer54]

Hi

I don't blame the adaptor at all. I take fully responsibility for not thinking straight. I was jet lagged and I didn't sleep before opening the box. If I had to go out and purchase an adaptor I would have realised I needed a step down converter, it was just that the adaptor I did have, let me configure it so that an american plug would fit to UK socket. It should not have allowed me to do this.

So if it is just the power supply that has fried, maybe there is hope of repairing it afterall?

Why, you had just come back from the States where you would have known that the voltage is different. Just because you brought the American appliance back to the UK, it's not going to automatically change it's supply requirements!! lol!! Why the hell people bring back appliances and other electrical gizmo's from the States knowing that they aren't suitable for any European supply system has always baffled me!! Sometimes even the additional expensive step-up transformer or whatever, won't get you over the 50/60Hz problem that can be critical on some equipment!!

At the end of the day, you may have to purchase a new power supply from the manufactures, especially if any major components are not individually serviceable/replaceable off the shelf.... An expensive lesson learnt, whatever way it goes!!

 

[Triiickie]

Why, you had just come back from the States where you would have known that the voltage is different. Just because you brought the American appliance back to the UK, it's not going to automatically change it's supply requirements!! lol!! Why the hell people bring back appliances and other electrical gizmo's from the States knowing that they aren't suitable for any European supply system has always baffled me!! Sometimes even the additional expensive step-up transformer or whatever, won't get you over the 50/60Hz problem that can be critical on some equipment!!

At the end of the day, you may have to purchase a new power supply from the manufactures, especially if any major components are not individually serviceable/replaceable off the shelf.... An expensive lesson learnt, whatever way it goes!!

You said...
Why the hell people bring back appliances and other electrical gizmo's from the States knowing that they aren't suitable for any European supply system has always baffled me!!

That was one of my points, I was jet lagged and not thinking straight. I should have known yes but the adaptor I had mislead me. And the fact that the guy in store knew I was coming to the UK should have said you need a converter don't forget. He would have got an extra $50 out of it. Damage done now so hope manufacturers can give me good news.

 

[ian.settle1]

You said...
Why the hell people bring back appliances and other electrical gizmo's from the States knowing that they aren't suitable for any European supply system has always baffled me!!

That was one of my points, I was jet lagged and not thinking straight. I should have known yes but the adaptor I had mislead me. And the fact that the guy in store knew I was coming to the UK should have said you need a converter don't forget. He would have got an extra $50 out of it. Damage done now so hope manufacturers can give me good news.

Cost another £200 to repair it, not good news for you but it would be for them

 

[Rampantchilli]

I think actually that as electricians we expect " normal people" to know this information, but actually I think the average person wouldn't know. My wife is probably the brightest out of her siblings, yet even being married to the wonderful man I am, I reckon this is something she would do, sorry babe.
and actually my son, who is bright but somewhat lazy, has made a similar mistake, plugging in a new power supply for his tattoo equipment, it went fizz pop straight away, on the back was a switch to change between 110&230, bet you can't guess what it was set on, and to think he comes to work with me sometimes

 

[grantr37]

Hi



I am not an electrician and would like to ask the community a question regarding a recently purchased from from the United States.



I purchased a uSqueez leg massager from the USA:

OSIM uSqueez App-Controlled Foot & Calf Massager?Buy Now!



When returning to the UK, it was plugged via a standard adaptor you can buy (why it would let you do this I really don't know) and when doing so, it work for 3 seconds then a popping sound occurred. I then realised that I needed a step down converter form the USA 110v to the UK 230v. the product was expensive at $299 and it cannot be returned to the USA as it is not covered under warantee.



Does this mean the product is totally useless now or is there a way I can fix this? Not sure if there may be an internal fuse box I could replace, or request a part from the manufacturer and get an electrician to replace? I really hope a fix is available and any recommneded electicians would be most grateful.



Any help would be greatly received.

if you can post that power supply to me, I will repair it for free if it can be repaired and post it back to you, I repair electrical and electronic goods as a hobby, if it can be done I will do it....
The pop that you heard will have been either a capacitor or a rectifier diode burning out, I would think most likely a capacitor...
The reason that the plug fitted the travel adapter is A) that the travel adapter also fits dual voltage laptop and phone chargers and B) the makers would never think that the USA product would go outside of America....there is no way to stop the unit from being plugged into a travel adapter as all the USA plugs are the same shape/type (there are 3 types of plug in the USA and they all fit UK travel adapters)


I had a quick look at that website and a few others, and I can't see any mains adapter, it looks like the wire/flex just goes straight in, and it is a bigger gadget/device than I thought at first, really big, so I would think that the motor is almost directly wired to the plug via a control board.....in which case the motor may well be blown/burned out......if that is the case then the nearest spares supplier for that is a motor maker in Wisconsin USA....I can't remember the name of the company I will need to look it up ...the motors are expensive and by the time you get shipping and pay the import tax it might not be worth it as it may be the same as a new replacement massager....

 

[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?

 

[Triiickie]

Hi guys

As promised, just in case this happens to others seeking help, I will let you know how I got on with my repairs. I found a company who was willing to look at my PCB board and change both the fuse and another component that prevents voltage spikes. I received the repaired item and put it all back together and switched the unit on (hair raising moment). and I was gobsmacked. The product is working perfectly. Totally amazed at the outcome and luckiness that the PCB had these components to protect the device. It was a long shot but worth the gamble. And to top it off, the repair cost me no more than £30.

Thank you all for your help and comments. I have learnt a lot and will remember to think twice before purchasing a foreign device for UK (don't do silly things when jet lagged - lol).