Shiva FastPath 5 - mainboard voltage

[zeppelin87]

Hi Guys,

I have a Shiva FastPath 5 that I bought cheap on eBay a while ago from a seller in the US and imported it to Europe. I almost connected it to try it out, when I read the sticker on the back saying 120V 50/60 Hz. Disaster avoided... but also no vintage mac TCP/IP

I opened it up and looked at the power connections: it is just a standard transformer that is connected to the power input, which then connects the (presumed) DC to the logic board. (http://www.walshcomptech.com/fastpath5/fp4pics/ This is a version 4, but it looks almost the same). It looks like there is no internal regulator for multi-voltage, just the transformer, so If I plug it in here in Europe, it will probably just fry the board.

Does anyone know what voltage the logic board needs in these devices? I could then power it with an alternative power source?

Thank you in advance!

 

[Bolle]

Where is the power connector on that logicboard?

It is going to need at least 5V for the logic and something 9-12V-ish for the BNC transceiver part.

 

[zeppelin87]

Hi,

Should have taken my own pictures from the start - please find them attached now of the PS and the board.

It is only 2 wires going from the power supply to the board. So I am guessing that there is a single input voltage, that gets broken down by the boards itself if needed.

 

[mactjaap]

I have the same one!

I just use a converter. See f.i. this page. 
 

https://www.amazon.com/slp/convert-220v-to-110v/eey2uug67aq74rn

 

[ScutBoy]

Jealous you have the RJ-45 module. I have to use an AUI adapter on mine - takes up more room on the shelf

 

[IlikeTech]

I bet that transformer's primary can be reconfigured to run on 230 volts.  I would take some pictures of that.  I *might* be able to tell you how to change it.

 

[zeppelin87]

Jealous you have the RJ-45 module. I have to use an AUI adapter on mine - takes up more room on the shelf

Yes, it is quite a convenience, IF I would have the power to run it . I would not mind the extra dongle really, as it would live in my network cupboard next to a Ethernet router. 

I have the same one!

I just use a converter. See f.i. this page. 
 

https://www.amazon.com/slp/convert-220v-to-110v/eey2uug67aq74rn

I have tried to find something that would work, that would convert the voltage but still retain the euro-plug (as I do not have any US power cable, as all adapters have the US plug on the other side). But no luck. That is why I started this topic to see if someone else had any other way. If all else fails, I will get an adapter and get a US power cable - or perform surgery on the adapter to change the outlet on it.

I bet that transformer's primary can be reconfigured to run on 230 volts.  I would take some pictures of that.  I *might* be able to tell you how to change it.

Wow, that would be really nice! I will take closer pictures of it tonight. Any special parts you need more detailed pictures on?

Thank you all for your answers so far!

 

[cheesestraws]

The transformer may well have the numbers of turns on each winding written on a label on it?  If it does, we can probably work it out from there...

 

[IlikeTech]

A picture of the jumper marked 120v would be good, as well as all of the wires that go into the transformer.

Thanks!

 

[zeppelin87]

 Hi guys, sorry for being away for some time. I have now taken more pictures of the transformer and the jumper +cables. Hopefully you can make something out :  ?

 

[zeppelin87]

Sorry, forgot the underside of the transformer as well, has a model name.

 

[IlikeTech]

That jumper appears to wire two primaries together in parallel for 120v operation.  I THINK that jumper should be able to be modified to put the primaries in series, which should output the correct voltage.

 

[zeppelin87]

Thank you for the help - and for the good suggestion!  

I do not feel comfortable rewiring it on my own, so I might just do what mactjaap says and get a step down converter, and change the output socket of that to the euro-plug to use a euro-powerlead.

Think that will be the easiest solution.

Again, thanks all for the points! 

 

[NJRoadfan]

Makes you wonder why they didn't put in a 115/230VAC switch to begin with. Rewiring the jumper wouldn't be hard assuming the black wires are all on the "hot" side of the transformers and the brown wires are "neutral".

 

[NJRoadfan]

To answer the question, the transformer in the Fastpath 5 outputs roughly 15.75VAC per my multimeter.

 

[zeppelin87]

Wow, thanks for that!

I now have it up and running with a PS outputting 15VAC and connected to the mainboard directly.

Thank you everyone for the help!

 

[NJRoadfan]

That harness inside the unit does allow one to reconfigure the unit to work with 230VAC. Looks like they came with a double tapped transformer. The older Kinetics Fastpath 4 also came with a 115/230VAC switchable power supply with a jumper wire too.

 

[mactjaap]

Ahhh. Good solution. A kind of “by pass“. 
Could you share a picture how this looks?

 

[NJRoadfan]

Very easy. The big transformer just steps down line voltage to ~15VAC. The AC to DC conversion is done on the Fastpath 5's main circuit board. I haven't taken the Fastpath 4 apart enough to see how it works, but rewiring it looks to be one wire.

EDIT: Yep, Fastpath 4 has a "230V" terminal on the power supply. Looks like you can just move the wire from the 115V terminal to 230V and be set. Unlike the Fastpath 5, the Fastpath 4 has a full power supply board and directly provides DC to the main logic board. Its an off-the-shelf Delta SMP-40BP. Looks like a Scantron machine used the very same unit!

 

[dramirez]

Jealous you have the EH-e. I have to use an AUI adapter on mine - takes up more room on the shelf

I just got an NetModem/E from eBay with the EH-10 Base T Rev A module. So now my FP5 will have it instead of the Base T!