Can I convert a Proxxon FBS 115/E to 230V ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: dav.m85
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 11, 2021, 08:45:18 pm
content: I own a proxxon FBS 115/E that is useless here in France since it does not work on grid's 230V.After opening it, I've found a very simple hashing circuitry with a Triac and a low pass filter to trigger its gate. I've reverse engineered it for you below (wasn't that hard). The motor is a DC one I think, since it is connected to the circuit through a bridge rectifier of 4x1n4007 (not represented on the circuit for sake of clarity).My feeling is that I can somehow modify it to adapt for 230V. All components are 230V rated, except for the motor for which I have no clue of its specs, and am very afraid of ruining it if ran straight on 230V. I wrapped my ahead around a few hours but still stuck.What do you think, is it doable ?Of course, if someone has a Proxxon fbs 240/e, feel free to take a picture and send it here

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2021, 03:48:38 pm
content: From a page selling spare parts for Proxxon gadgets, the 230V version uses a 230V DC motor, so it's likely that it's the motor, not the board, that's different.I'd just run it through a small voltage converter.Or treat yourself to a new IBS/E.I have one and can highly recommend it!

author: BrokenYugo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2021, 05:12:08 pm
content: It's a 100 watt tool, that's a pretty small/cheap step down transformer.

author: tunk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2021, 05:21:08 pm
content: Looking at the parts lists, it looks like the motor andcontroller board are different (+label/cable). Maybe youcould ask Proxxon how much the parts cost?

author: m3vuv
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2021, 07:56:27 pm
content: i have an old heath computor oscilloscope here,its 110volt,at 80 watts,i just brought a cheap ebay auto transformer and mounted it in the case and used that,cost about £5,works fine .

author: dav.m85
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 18, 2021, 09:36:15 am
content: Asked Proxxon support a while ago, very polite answer was "board and motor are different, you need the 220V motor if you plan using 220V".Would have been grand to do a circuit conversion to acustom the 115V motor. It's eevblog forum isn't it ? Well thanks for your advices anyway

author: perieanuo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2021, 08:31:32 am
content: Quote from: dav.m85 on October 18, 2021, 09:36:15 amanyway, what did you expect?you have solution proposed, take some second-hand 230-110V transformer, on leboncoin.fr you'll find cheap ones.you wanna fabric some converter from 230 to 110 Vac? it will cost more, that's why anyone here doesn't recommend this. so cheapest is transformer solution, keep that 'anyway' for yourself, we just try to help we can't do economic miracles voila, 20 euroshttps://www.leboncoin.fr/materiel_agricole/1586413199.htm

author: dav.m85
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 20, 2021, 07:04:37 pm
content: I wasn't looking for a cheap solution, but a wizard-ish one. "Anyway" could be translated in french here by "Merci quand même pour vos conseils". I don't see how it could hurt anyone's feeling, but if it did, my sincerest apologies.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 21, 2021, 10:24:39 pm
content: Quote from: dav.m85 on October 20, 2021, 07:04:37 pmNon, pas du tout!Everything’s fine.Alas, I don’t think replacing all the electrical components counts as wizardry, and it’d probably cost as much as a new one, so…But the already mentioned step-down converter is a cheap, practical solution.