Hardware Power supply

[yiyosan]

Hi,

I've heard that the Wii U power supply is universal, even if labeled as 110V or 230V.

Is that the case for the Wii as well? Could I plug a European Wii in the USA (with the plug adapter of course)?

 

[FAST6191]

Third party or original?
That said there should be a label on the back saying what the input voltage and frequency range it accepts is (US is 120V-60Hz). Look at that.

 

[yiyosan]

Third party or original?
That said there should be a label on the back saying what the input voltage and frequency range it accepts is (US is 120V-60Hz). Look at that.

Original.
The thing is, for the Wii U power supply, even if it says 120V or 220V, when you open them up apparently it's a universal power supply (like the ones for handheld consoles etc).

 

[buckchow]

Original.
The thing is, for the Wii U power supply, even if it says 120V or 220V, when you open them up apparently it's a universal power supply (like the ones for handheld consoles etc).

That's interesting. I'd also be interested in knowing for certain if there's any truth to this both for Wii and Wii U.

It's worth keeping in mind that there were multiple manufacturers of original Wii power supplies, so unless they all used exactly the same design there could easily be differences among those.

 

[Alexander1970]

Except the Connector is "wrong".....

https://gbatemp.net/threads/can-i-use-a-wii-u-power-adapter-with-a-wii-console.542169/#post-8695937

 

[KiiWii]

@alexander1970
Can the plastic corner not just be be clipped off to fit? Anyone tried that?

 

[Alexander1970]

@alexander1970
Can the plastic corner not just be be clipped off to fit? Anyone tried that?

I did not found any "Clues" so I think no.



I am not really a Fan of this DIY Things:



Maybe our Friends @p1ngpong or @Veho can tell us what he is doing here...

 

[KiiWii]

@alexander1970 yeah looks like he took the notch off the top left and wired up a compatible third party power supply to the now modified plastic connector.

 

[master801]

Sure you can.

All the power supply (the thing that plugs from the wall to a giant brick to the console) really does is convert a/c into 12v dc, which the console uses.

It's pretty much a copy of a laptop power brick.

If you're trying to power something else with a power brick that it isn't intended for, just make sure the power brick's output voltage is the same, and the milliamps are the same or more. Otherwise it could toast the powered object.

 

[buckchow]

Sure you can.

All the power supply (the thing that plugs from the wall to a giant brick to the console) really does is convert a/c into 12v dc, which the console uses.

AC inputs are not all the same voltage. Power supplies don't all support the two most common input voltages. The OP is specifically interested in if Wii power supplies are "universal" in that they support both of those input voltages.

It's pretty much a copy of a laptop power brick.

Laptop power supplies aren't all universal either.

If you're trying to power something else with a power brick that it isn't intended for, just make sure the power brick's output voltage is the same, and the milliamps are the same or more. Otherwise it could toast the powered object.

It's not enough to just check the output voltage and amps. Both the input and output voltages need to match (approximately at least, specs vary). Power supply output voltage too low and the device won't power up or may behave erratically. Output voltage too high and the device may be toasted as you say. Output amps too low the power supply may fry because the device is working it too hard. Output amps the same or higher than needed and everybody's happy as you say.