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Shiva FastPath 5 - mainboard voltage
Posted by: zeppelin87 on 2020-04-16 10:49:55
Hi Guys,

I have a Shiva FastPath 5 that I bought cheap on eBay a while ago from a seller in the US and imported it to Europe. I almost connected it to try it out, when I read the sticker on the back saying 120V 50/60 Hz. Disaster avoided... but also no vintage mac TCP/IP 🙁

I opened it up and looked at the power connections: it is just a standard transformer that is connected to the power input, which then connects the (presumed) DC to the logic board. (http://www.walshcomptech.com/fastpath5/fp4pics/ This is a version 4, but it looks almost the same). It looks like there is no internal regulator for multi-voltage, just the transformer, so If I plug it in here in Europe, it will probably just fry the board.

Does anyone know what voltage the logic board needs in these devices? I could then power it with an alternative power source?

Thank you in advance!
Posted by: Bolle on 2020-04-16 11:03:05
Where is the power connector on that logicboard?

It is going to need at least 5V for the logic and something 9-12V-ish for the BNC transceiver part.
Posted by: zeppelin87 on 2020-04-16 12:32:12
Hi,

Should have taken my own pictures from the start - please find them attached now of the PS and the board.

It is only 2 wires going from the power supply to the board. So I am guessing that there is a single input voltage, that gets broken down by the boards itself if needed.

IMG_20200416_212306.jpg

IMG_20200416_212532.jpg

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IMG_20200416_212546.jpg

IMG_20200416_212632.jpg
Posted by: mactjaap on 2020-04-17 00:16:22
I have the same one!

I just use a converter. See f.i. this page. 
 

https://www.amazon.com/slp/convert-220v-to-110v/eey2uug67aq74rn
Posted by: ScutBoy on 2020-04-17 06:58:29
Jealous you have the RJ-45 module. I have to use an AUI adapter on mine - takes up more room on the shelf 🙂

Posted by: IlikeTech on 2020-04-20 16:36:00
I bet that transformer's primary can be reconfigured to run on 230 volts.  I would take some pictures of that.  I *might* be able to tell you how to change it.
Posted by: zeppelin87 on 2020-04-23 02:17:33
Jealous you have the RJ-45 module. I have to use an AUI adapter on mine - takes up more room on the shelf 🙂
Yes, it is quite a convenience, IF I would have the power to run it 🙂 . I would not mind the extra dongle really, as it would live in my network cupboard next to a Ethernet router. 

I have the same one!

I just use a converter. See f.i. this page. 
 

https://www.amazon.com/slp/convert-220v-to-110v/eey2uug67aq74rn
I have tried to find something that would work, that would convert the voltage but still retain the euro-plug (as I do not have any US power cable, as all adapters have the US plug on the other side). But no luck. That is why I started this topic to see if someone else had any other way. If all else fails, I will get an adapter and get a US power cable - or perform surgery on the adapter to change the outlet on it.

I bet that transformer's primary can be reconfigured to run on 230 volts.  I would take some pictures of that.  I *might* be able to tell you how to change it.
Wow, that would be really nice! I will take closer pictures of it tonight. Any special parts you need more detailed pictures on?

Thank you all for your answers so far!
Posted by: cheesestraws on 2020-04-23 02:44:25
The transformer may well have the numbers of turns on each winding written on a label on it?  If it does, we can probably work it out from there...
Posted by: IlikeTech on 2020-04-23 06:19:15
A picture of the jumper marked 120v would be good, as well as all of the wires that go into the transformer.

Thanks!
Posted by: zeppelin87 on 2020-04-27 07:41:09
 Hi guys, sorry for being away for some time. I have now taken more pictures of the transformer and the jumper +cables. Hopefully you can make something out :🙂  ?

IMG_20200427_162608.jpg

IMG_20200427_162627.jpg

IMG_20200427_162730.jpg

IMG_20200427_162742.jpg

IMG_20200427_162806.jpg

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Posted by: zeppelin87 on 2020-04-27 07:44:23
Sorry, forgot the underside of the transformer as well, has a model name.

IMG_20200427_164303.jpg
Posted by: IlikeTech on 2020-04-27 19:57:47
That jumper appears to wire two primaries together in parallel for 120v operation.  I THINK that jumper should be able to be modified to put the primaries in series, which should output the correct voltage.
Posted by: zeppelin87 on 2020-04-28 01:19:27
Thank you for the help - and for the good suggestion! 🙂  

I do not feel comfortable rewiring it on my own, so I might just do what mactjaap says and get a step down converter, and change the output socket of that to the euro-plug to use a euro-powerlead.

Think that will be the easiest solution.

Again, thanks all for the points! 
Posted by: NJRoadfan on 2020-04-28 16:23:22
Makes you wonder why they didn't put in a 115/230VAC switch to begin with. Rewiring the jumper wouldn't be hard assuming the black wires are all on the "hot" side of the transformers and the brown wires are "neutral".
Posted by: NJRoadfan on 2020-08-14 02:37:43
To answer the question, the transformer in the Fastpath 5 outputs roughly 15.75VAC per my multimeter.
Posted by: zeppelin87 on 2020-09-06 20:56:27
Wow, thanks for that! 🙂

I now have it up and running with a PS outputting 15VAC and connected to the mainboard directly.

Thank you everyone for the help!
Posted by: NJRoadfan on 2020-09-06 23:21:31
That harness inside the unit does allow one to reconfigure the unit to work with 230VAC. Looks like they came with a double tapped transformer. The older Kinetics Fastpath 4 also came with a 115/230VAC switchable power supply with a jumper wire too.
Posted by: mactjaap on 2020-09-07 00:24:59
Ahhh. Good solution. A kind of “by pass“. 
Could you share a picture how this looks?
Posted by: NJRoadfan on 2020-09-10 01:50:55
Very easy. The big transformer just steps down line voltage to ~15VAC. The AC to DC conversion is done on the Fastpath 5's main circuit board. I haven't taken the Fastpath 4 apart enough to see how it works, but rewiring it looks to be one wire.

EDIT: Yep, Fastpath 4 has a "230V" terminal on the power supply. Looks like you can just move the wire from the 115V terminal to 230V and be set. Unlike the Fastpath 5, the Fastpath 4 has a full power supply board and directly provides DC to the main logic board. Its an off-the-shelf Delta SMP-40BP. Looks like a Scantron machine used the very same unit!
Posted by: dramirez on 2025-03-20 17:41:55
Jealous you have the EH-e. I have to use an AUI adapter on mine - takes up more room on the shelf 🙂
I just got an NetModem/E from eBay with the EH-10 Base T Rev A module. So now my FP5 will have it instead of the Base T! 😉
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