Strange Wii problem - High current from Audio-Video output cables!

[rshri]

Guys, please help me with a strange problem, here are the details -

I recently bought Wii console from US and brought it here in Delhi, India. To use it here, I made use of a cheap Step Down Voltage Converter (one that looks like a large heavy plug) that I bought from local electric shop for Rs 150/-. It steps down 220V to 110V as required by Wii. I made Wii part of my audio-video setup wich includes my TV, DVD Player & AV Receiver. I am using this whole setup without any problems for past one month or so.

Few days ago, while playing Wii, I felt a small electric current when I accidentally touched my AV Receiver. I dismissed it initially. Last night, I felt it again on touching my DVD Player and TV as well. It was quiet high, can hardly touch some metallic parts for more than 4-5 secs. Initially I thought that somehow current was originating from my TV. Then after much testing, I deduced that current was originating from audio-video output cables of my Wii console (that were connected to TV and thus affecting everything)!

Funny thing is that Wii is not even turned ON. Its just in STANDBY mode and still there is very sharp electric current outputted through its audio-video output cables!! Current disappears when I completely turn off the power supply to Wii.

I suspected that its because of some shorting in the cheap Voltage Convertor. I then tried other similar Voltage Converters but problem remained. I then noticed that its power rating is 20W while the required power rating for Wii is 52W. I therefore bought a 50W Voltage Converter for Rs 180/-. Still the problem remains!

I am now running out of options. This is what I can think of -

1) Buy a still better Voltage Converter with higher wattage (say 100W or so), if available. Where can I get this, local shops are clueless? Can this really help solving problem?
2) The standard power connection in Wii is actually a DC Convertor that expects a 110V 52W 60Hz AC power supply and outputs 12V 3.7A DC current to actual console. Its to this DC converter that I attach my StepDown Voltage Converter. Maybe I should replace the whole thing with DC Converter which is able to accept 220V current? I have noticed that its available here -

Buy Electronic Auto AC Adapter - Order Now!

Should I order it from here or can I get it in Palika?
3) Should I just ignore the whole thing and continue as if nothing has happened? Isn't this electric current dangerous for my whole AV setup? I hope it hasn't already done some internal damage to my AV setup (Large screen TV is quiet expensive!). Its all running without any problems though.
Guys, waiting for your advice and comments! Sorry for the long post!

 

[KingKrool]

Basically, it is an earthing problem (since you seem to have ruled out shorting). Try connecting it to some other plug point WITH EARTH. Of course, for this to work, the adapter and converter all should have an earth point.... which they may not have.

I would advise using a 220V DC converter instead... regardless of whether the current shorting problem is fixed or not. But make sure that it is of good quality!

 

[superczar]

the wii does not even use a three pin plug

(just a two prong w/o earth)

technically, the wii does not even receive high ac voltage as it has a separate power brick

from what you have described, the problem seems to be with the wii power brick

can you get hold of a dmm and check the o/p voltage from the power brick?

just hold the gnd of the dmm in your hand and touch the red wire of the dmm with the power brick output prongs to check if there is any a/c voltage leaking from the power brick output

I would advise using a 220V DC converter instead

??? :huh:

 

[rshri]

Guys, thanks for the replies! Based on your comments and my own research, these are the conclusions that I have come up with so far (To avoid any confusion, please let me state that 'Wii Power Brick' means the standard Wii power connection which is actually a DC Converter that expects a 110V 52W 60Hz AC power supply and outputs 12V 3.7A DC current to actual console) -

1) Its very unlikely that root cause of the problem is due to cheap Voltage Converters that I am using. However, is it possible that cheap Voltage Converters have some basic design flaw that manifests itself as this problem while using with Wii Power Brick? Is it advisable to pursue for better and more expensive Voltage Converters?

2) I suspect that as SuperCzar is suggesting, Wii Power Brick might be leaking AC current. Maybe brick works fine with US power supply only (60 Hz). Combination of Indian Power Supply (50 Hz) and Step Down Voltage Converter might be making Wii Power Brick malfunction and making it leak AC current. I don't have a DMM myself, I will have to go to some electrician to do the test SuperCzar is suggesting. Most likely this electrician will be dumb and I have myself never used DMM before. So if you have more specific instructions for DMM testing, please give them to me now. Most likely I will go to electrician either today or tomorrow evening.

3) If DMM test reveals AC current is leaking then I will have to replace the Wii Power Brick with best quality 220V voltage compatible Power Brick that I can find (this is what KingKrool is suggesting). I guess it will be something like this -
Buy Electronic Auto AC Adapter - Order Now!
Most likely, I will buy it on Saturday from Palika, Delhi.

4) If DMM test reveals no AC current, then the problem is within Wii console itself and there is nothing I can do about it. No point replacing Wii Power Brick then.

5) Guys, I told you that I was using 20W Voltage Converter before. Since Wii Power Brick is rated as 52W, is it possible that I have somehow damaged Wii Power Brick or Wii Console by under powering it? Could that be the root cause of problem? I am feeling guilty for this carelessness of mine, I have bought a 50W Voltage Converter now.

6) Now something worth pondering - Is this problem really a problem at all? In my Audio-Video setup, all AC plugs ( of TV, AV Receiver, DVD Player, Wii Console) are 2 pin plugs. There is no ground connection. When Wii is powered and I touch metallic surfaces in Audio-Video setup, I feel slight electric current. This is because by touching, I am grounding the leaked voltage from Wii. If I don't touch it, then there is no grounding and hence no extra electric current within my AV setup. That means my AV setup is safe as long as I don't touch it! So problem is not a problem at all if I don't touch anything while playing Wii games! What do you think?

Waiting for your comments/replies!

 

[superczar]

1) Its very unlikely that root cause of the problem is due to cheap Voltage Converters that I am using. However, is it possible that cheap Voltage Converters have some basic design flaw that manifests itself as this problem while using with Wii Power Brick? Is it advisable to pursue for better and more expensive Voltage Converters?

Very unlikely the problem is with the converter

A bad converter will not supply enough power to the brick..doesnt mean the brick should leak current

2) I suspect that as SuperCzar is suggesting, Wii Power Brick might be leaking AC current. Maybe brick works fine with US power supply only (60 Hz). Combination of Indian Power Supply (50 Hz) and Step Down Voltage Converter might be making Wii Power Brick malfunction and making it leak AC current. I don't have a DMM myself, I will have to go to some electrician to do the test SuperCzar is suggesting. Most likely this electrician will be dumb and I have myself never used DMM before. So if you have more specific instructions for DMM testing, please give them to me now. Most likely I will go to electrician either today or tomorrow evening.

Possible, But I don't have any such issue with my Wii (the same US model)

Take it to any electronics repair guy and ask him to check the voltage at the brick o/p and also check if there is any current leakage..This is elementarty stuff, they'll know how to do it

you can even buy a cheap DMM for 150 or so

3) If DMM test reveals AC current is leaking then I will have to replace the Wii Power Brick with best quality 220V voltage compatible Power Brick that I can find (this is what KingKrool is suggesting). I guess it will be something like this -

Buy Electronic Auto AC Adapter - Order Now!

Most likely, I will buy it on Saturday from Palika, Delhi.

4) If DMM test reveals no AC current, then the problem is within Wii console itself and there is nothing I can do about it. No point replacing Wii Power Brick then.

As you said, you can fee the shock..the wii console is supposed to work off 12V supply and thus the console cannot be the cause of this as 12V will not give you a shock (that you can feel)

5) Guys, I told you that I was using 20W Voltage Converter before. Since Wii Power Brick is rated as 52W, is it possible that I have somehow damaged Wii Power Brick or Wii Console by under powering it? Could that be the root cause of problem? I am feeling guilty for this carelessness of mine, I have bought a 50W Voltage Converter now.

Very unlikelly it would have caused any damage unless your cheap converter was supplying 150-160V instead of 110

6) Now something worth pondering - Is this problem really a problem at all? In my Audio-Video setup, all AC plugs ( of TV, AV Receiver, DVD Player, Wii Console) are 2 pin plugs. There is no ground connection. When Wii is powered and I touch metallic surfaces in Audio-Video setup, I feel slight electric current. This is because by touching, I am grounding the leaked voltage from Wii. If I don't touch it, then there is no grounding and hence no extra electric current within my AV setup. That means my AV setup is safe as long as I don't touch it! So problem is not a problem at all if I don't touch anything while playing Wii games! What do you think?

No...if you get a shock by touching the prong, this means you have over 30-40V AC leaking out of the Wii

Your AV setup isnt designed to handle this kind of voltages