Orvibo S20 Smart Socket Power Converter ======================================= Last revised: 2024-03-19 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This document was derived from a (failed) sample of the US version of the Orvibo S20 Smart Socket. (Label: WIFI SOCKET - USA) This version has connectors for US 120V, but is rated for "AC 100-240V", so the information here may apply to other versions with different connectors. The power converter module in this unit was labeled: BE5V01 OUTPUT:5V 2014.05.08 Ver1.0 Whether all versions of the S20 use same power converter as described here is unknown. The reader is responsible for determining the applicability of this information to any particular S20 unit. This power converter module provides a 5VDC supply (which is isolated from the AC mains power source) for the rest of the electronics in the S20. If it fails, the S20 becomes inoperable. Testing the Power Converter Module ---------------------------------- In the S20, a working power converter (with a 120V AC supply) will have roughly 170VDC between its "L" and "N" input terminals, and very close to 5VDC between its "V+" and "V-" output terminals. With a 240V AC mains supply, expect roughly 340VDC between the converter's "L" and "N" input terminals. If the converter input voltage is right, but its output voltage is bad (typically low), that suggests (but does not prove) a faulty converter. In that case, one reliable test of the converter is to substitute a known-good 5VDC supply for the converter, and see if the S20 works better. An AC adapter with a 5VDC output from some other device should make a good substitute power supply. (Almost any 5VDC adapter will work; the power requirement of the S20 is low.) To test: 1. For safety, disconnect the S20 from the AC mains power. A load appliance is not needed for this test, either. 2. Disconnect (unsolder) the converter output ("V+", "V-") from the S20 main board. (This is probably easiest to do at the converter output terminals.) 3. Connect a known-good 5VDC supply to the S20 main board (ensuring the correct polarity). If the S20 works as expected with this substitute 5VDC power supply, then the converter is the most likely culprit. Of course, with no AC mains power, the S20 can't actually operate an appliance, but it should be able to communicate using its radio, its Blue/Red LED indicator should work, and its power-switching relay should be audible when it operates. Replacing the Power Converter Module ------------------------------------ Finding an exact replacement for a BE5V01 converter may be difficult, but a somewhat different converter, which might or might not be labeled "WX-DC12003" is widely available, inexpensive, and apparently a suitable replacement. The circuit board of this replacement converter is a little larger (about 0.1 inch (about 2.5mm)) in its smaller dimension, but it still fits in the S20. Converter Terminals (schematic, viewed from circuit-board side) --------------------------------------------------------------- Original (BE5V01) Replacement (WX-DC12003) OUT - + IN V- V+ GND VCC N L +---------------------------+ +------+ +---+ +---+ | o o o | L[-] | o o | | o | | o | | | | +----------+ +-+ | | o | N[+] | | | | | | --------------- | --------------- | /________________ /________________ These converter modules accept AC or DC input. The S20 provides DC, through a half-wave rectifier (D2), with a filter capacitor (C9) and some noise filtering (R4, L2). (All parts on the S20 main board.) Physically, the 5VDC output terminals on the original (BE5V01) and replacement (WX-DC12003) converter modules are positioned similarly, so it should be possible to reuse the original two-pin header for the 5VDC output connections. The line-voltage input terminals are, however, oriented and spaced differently, so, rather than try to deform and reuse their original two-pin header, it's probably better to remove their original header, and replace it with a pair of insulated wires. ------------------------ NOTE ------------------------ The original (BE5V01) converter uses a half-wave rectifier on its input, so when it is fed from a DC supply, like that on the S20, it must be connected with the positive supply on its "N" (Neutral) input, and the negative supply on its "L" (Line) input. (A DC input with reversed polarity results in no output.) The replacement (WX-DC12003) converter uses a full-wave bridge rectifier on its input (situated under the big filter capacitor), so this converter is not sensitive to supply polarity. Some of the WX-DC12003 pictures on the Web show its inputs labeled "L/Input+" and "N/Input-", but, because of that full-wave bridge rectifier, this polarity doesn't matter. The "L" (Line) and "N" (Neutral) designations are also not significant here. The actual switched mains power is not affected by the connections to the 5V converter. So, the "L" (Line) and "N" (Neutral) input terminals on this replacement converter may be connected either way to the (rectified and filtered) mains-voltage terminals on the S20 main board. A photograph of the original and replacement power converters may be found at: http://antinode.info/ftp/orvl/S20_Pwr_Cvtr.jpg For scale, the distance between the "V-" and "L" terminals on the original (BE5V01) converter (or the "OUT/-/GND" and "IN/L" terminals on the replacement (WX-DC12003) converter) is 0.8 inch (about 20mm).