Orvibo S20 Smart Socket Power Converter      =======================================   Last revised: 2024-03-19------------------------------------------------------------------------   This document was derived from a (failed) sample of the US version ofthe Orvibo S20 Smart Socket.  (Label: WIFI SOCKET - USA)  This versionhas connectors for US 120V, but is rated for "AC 100-240V", so theinformation 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 theapplicability of this information to any particular S20 unit.   This power converter module provides a 5VDC supply (which is isolatedfrom the AC mains power source) for the rest of the electronics in theS20.  If it fails, the S20 becomes inoperable.      Testing the Power Converter Module      ----------------------------------   In the S20, a working power converter (with a 120V AC supply) willhave roughly 170VDC between its "L" and "N" input terminals, and veryclose to 5VDC between its "V+" and "V-" output terminals.   With a 240V AC mains supply, expect roughly 340VDC between theconverter's "L" and "N" input terminals.   If the converter input voltage is right, but its output voltage isbad (typically low), that suggests (but does not prove) a faultyconverter.  In that case, one reliable test of the converter is tosubstitute a known-good 5VDC supply for the converter, and see if theS20 works better.  An AC adapter with a 5VDC output from some otherdevice should make a good substitute power supply.  (Almost any 5VDCadapter 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 ACmains power, the S20 can't actually operate an appliance, but it shouldbe able to communicate using its radio, its Blue/Red LED indicatorshould work, and its power-switching relay should be audible when itoperates.      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 suitablereplacement.  The circuit board of this replacement converter is alittle 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) andsome noise filtering (R4, L2).  (All parts on the S20 main board.)   Physically, the 5VDC output terminals on the original (BE5V01) andreplacement (WX-DC12003) converter modules are positioned similarly, soit should be possible to reuse the original two-pin header for the 5VDCoutput connections.   The line-voltage input terminals are, however, oriented and spaceddifferently, so, rather than try to deform and reuse their originaltwo-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 itsinput, so when it is fed from a DC supply, like that on the S20, it mustbe connected with the positive supply on its "N" (Neutral) input, andthe negative supply on its "L" (Line) input.  (A DC input with reversedpolarity results in no output.)   The replacement (WX-DC12003) converter uses a full-wave bridgerectifier on its input (situated under the big filter capacitor), sothis 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 bridgerectifier, this polarity doesn't matter.  The "L" (Line) and "N"(Neutral) designations are also not significant here.  The actualswitched mains power is not affected by the connections to the 5Vconverter.   So, the "L" (Line) and "N" (Neutral) input terminals on thisreplacement converter may be connected either way to the (rectified andfiltered) mains-voltage terminals on the S20 main board.   A photograph of the original and replacement power converters may befound at: http://antinode.info/ftp/orvl/S20_Pwr_Cvtr.jpgFor scale, the distance between the "V-" and "L" terminals on theoriginal (BE5V01) converter (or the "OUT/-/GND" and "IN/L" terminals onthe replacement (WX-DC12003) converter) is 0.8 inch (about 20mm).