Is this 220v capable board? (Dewalt DCB095) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: haizaar
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2022, 05:56:47 am
content: Hi all,I've got myself the US version of one of those DeWalt 8V screwdrivers. The charger says it's 110v but seemingly the same kit is sold on Amazon AU, and AU reviewers say it's 220v capable (just need a plug adapter). Also on some other non-English forum people reported that post 2020 chargers are actually 220v ready but didn't go into details.Is one capable to tell whether mine is 220v capable? The pictures are here:https://imgur.com/a/uwus7gM.Thanks a bunch!

author: bidrohini
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2022, 07:26:14 am
content: In the 2nd picture of the board, it is written '250V'. Looks like it can be powered up with 220V directly.

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2022, 07:42:10 am
content: The one component to check to make sure is the big black capacitor in the primary part of the power supply. If it is rated for 400V or more thenyesitshouldmightbe capable of handling 220V.Edit: in light of the rightful remarks of wasedadoc and Ian.M, I changed it to might be capable.

author: wasedadoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2022, 11:16:38 am
content: Quote from: pcprogrammer on December 04, 2022, 07:42:10 amThat is not a guarantee. What is true is that if that capacitor is rated less than 400 volts then the board should not be used on 220 volt. The converse does not necessarily hold.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2022, 12:26:23 pm
content: You'd also need to check the specs on the switching transistor Q1 and look at the track layout to see if there are adequate creepage and clearance distances for 230V mains supply. Even so, at best it would be indicative of a 230V rated design, and would *NOT* guarantee it wouldn't go bang! or rapidly degrade if fed with 240V AC.*MOST* manufacturers with wide voltage range capable PSUs are happy to claim that on the exterior ratings label. If it doesn't say something like 100V - 250V AC on the label, odds are it isn't capable of operating at a significantly different supply voltage without possibly extensive modifications.

author: haizaar
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2022, 02:21:19 am
content: Thank you all for your prompt replies! The main capacitor is glued the to board and unluckily the voltage/capacity ratings are on the glued-in side.Is this some kind of thermal glue? At what temperatures does it usually yield? (I've got temperature controlled heat gut)

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2022, 06:16:20 am
content: Don't think it is thermal glue. It also looks like the rectifier diodes are underneath this capacitor. At least the fuse is also rated for 250V. But like Ian.M wrote, there are many aspects that are in play.Post some pictures of the underneath, so we can look at the traces.

author: haizaar
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2022, 06:14:56 am
content: Uploaded more pictures of the backside of the board as requested to the same album: https://imgur.com/a/uwus7gM

author: haizaar
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2022, 09:40:55 am
content: To wrap this up - after bracing myself and having finger on the kill switch, I plugged the charger into the mains. It worked fine and managed to charge the battery. YMMV but so far it works for me.Thanks everyone for your valuable relies.

author: litle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 12, 2024, 10:07:01 am
content: Found this thread via google, just registered to reply:The questionable Capacitor is in fact rated for 400V.Hope this was not ooo much necroing as it was the only information I could find in the whole Internet regarding this toppic...Bye and you´l most likely never see me again

author: haizaar
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2024, 11:00:16 am
content: Thanks for chiming in.To update everyone: the charger is still working just fine. However I use it about twice a year, just to put the "engine hours" in perspective.This tool is amazing for assembling IKEA furniture - just enough torque to drive their screws into pre-drilled chipboard holes but nearly not enough to blow them out.

author: magic
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2024, 12:11:31 pm
content: Another thing to look at are high value resistors (hundreds kΩ) used for startup supply to the PWM controller. Their power dissipation quadruples with doubling of input voltage and in dodgy designs they may run quite hot already. In unlucky cases they could appear to be OK initially, but go bad after a few minutes of warmup or aften some accumulated hours of operation.

author: Taras Motruk
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 28, 2024, 02:20:59 am
content: Just got registered on this forum to confirm, that DeWalt Charger DCB095 purchased in US and labelled as supporting 120V AC 60 Hz input voltage only was tested on 230VAC 60Hz and found working perfectly fine.The board in my charger is built exactly same way as on photos from topic starter - input rectifier filter electrolytic capacitor is mounted with voltage label down thus no chance to read what is rated voltage, but thanks to info posted in this forum topic I got confidence that the charger is 230VAC ready. That is really great because I was already thinking to by voltage converter for this charger to use it on 230VAC network.By the way, gyroscopic cordless screwdriver DeWalt DCF680 is amazing tool, I couldn't fine anything similar from another brand - thank you DeWalt!

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 28, 2024, 06:36:16 am
content: I have a Ryobi drill and charger bought in the USA. The charger says 120 V and it definitely is only for 120 V. I used to use it with a stepdown transformer but one day, I do not know what I was thinking, I plugged into 230 V and it promptly blew the filter cap. After replacing it the charger worked again. At 120 V, of course.You would think they would make the chargers good for 120 and 230 V but they don't and they make separate adapters. My guess is the do this to maintain separation of markets. In the USA the products are cheaper than in Europe and they try to put obstacles to private or grey market exports.I am guessing this is what Dewalt tries to do too. Even though the unit is good for 230 V they try to scare you into thinking it is not.