Wii 220V Issue

[ubonrthai]

I bought a Wii in the US and brought it with me to Thailand. I figured it was like my computers and could handle 110 or 220v. Big mistake. I plugged it in and the box on the power cord made a loud pop. I'm guessing the Wii console itself is ok.

Does anyone know if this can be fixed by simply buying a 220v cord instead? Assuming I could find this at MBK or something?

What a disappointment. This is my first gaming console purchase since the original Nintendo.

[Langsuan Man]

Any shop that sells the WII will have a WII 220 adapters that will work, although I would not bet that you did not fry the console when you plugged a 110V "brick" into the 220V line

[ubonrthai]

I'm optimistic after opening the power brick. The part that goes to the wall definitely looks toasted, but the other end that goes to the wii looks fine. I know very little about electronics though. Thoughts?

[lopburi3]

There is no way to know without checking so just take the unit to a shop and if the new power supply works you buy it - if not you ask to have unit repaired. Shops here are willing to check items before sale so nothing lost it using that option.

[ubonrthai]

Do you recommend any specific shop? Somehwere in MBK or Pantip?

There is no way to know without checking so just take the unit to a shop and if the new power supply works you buy it - if not you ask to have unit repaired. Shops here are willing to check items before sale so nothing lost it using that option.

[astral]

The 220V power bricks are easy to find.

As for the console, you will have to check and pray.

[lomatopo]

Do you recommend any specific shop? Somehwere in MBK or Pantip?

Blu O is a great Wii shop. They can also soft-mod your Wii (bring a USB HDD for games). They have 220/50 bricks but call to confirm before you go.

[PhiPhi]

Did this a few years ago when I brought a Japanese Wii here, it had a 110/220v wall wart type adapter which the proper Wii power adapter plugged in to. The Wii adaptor that went phut when I forgot the wall wart but it is easy to repair and should only cost a few baht to do, I did it myself using the surge protector out of a common anti-surge power bar. Good news is the Wii will be fine, bad news is I don't really remember exactly what part needs replacing, just cracked open the Wii power adaptor, smelled and looked for a burnt component, looked up the markings on Google took a wild leap of faith that that same or similar component would be in my power bar and used it to replaced the burnt out one by a simpe desolderings / resoldering swapout. After that I super-glued the Wii power cable to the 110v adapter as the surge protection was probably useless but hey 3 years later and still working.

[craigt3365]

Do you recommend any specific shop? Somehwere in MBK or Pantip?

Blu O is a great Wii shop. They can also soft-mod your Wii (bring a USB HDD for games). They have 220/50 bricks but call to confirm before you go.

I'm in the US now, and there are some good sales on the Wii. But this post scares me. Is it better to get it in Thailand or here in the US. I am quite interested in the "modified" Wii so it can play the games available there....

Thanks!!!

[ubonrthai]

I picked up a new power cord today and it works great. 600 baht. The Wii was safe from my stupidity. This shop was very friendly and quick. It's on the 6th floor of MBK in the middle area.

I would purchase your Wii in America and bring it here. With the current exchange rate, you'll save quite a bit doing that. Just pick up a new power cord MBK when you get back.

[lomatopo]

I'm in the US now, and there are some good sales on the Wii. But this post scares me. Is it better to get it in Thailand or here in the US. I am quite interested in the "modified" Wii so it can play the games available there....

Thanks!!!

What prices are you seeing? Any sales tax? About the cheapest system price I've ever seen (exclusive of eBay) is $199.99, add on any sales tax, the cost of a new brick (600 ~ 750) and modding (~ 300) and you're nearly at the local price (8,000 all in). Plus if you have a problem you can get warranty repair here, which I doubt would be an option on U.S. H/W? If you do buy in the U.S. use the system for a few days to make sure its not DOA. If you decide to wait to buy here then maybe buy one controller in the U.S. as those are a bit cheaper. (FWIW: Newegg does not charge sales tax and has free shipping on Wii systems.)

[ubonrthai]

I bought my Wii from Amazon for $199. The power adapter was 600 baht at MBK and I'm modding my own Wii. The walkthroughs are easy at http://www.wiihacks.com/ if you're comfortable doing it. The savings for me ends up being about $40 USD and I feel safer about buying electronics in the U.S. Saving even more if you count the controllers I purchased in the U.S. which are cheaper than here.

What prices are you seeing? Any sales tax? About the cheapest system price I've ever seen (exclusive of eBay) is $199.99, add on any sales tax, the cost of a new brick (600 ~ 750) and modding (~ 300) and you're nearly at the local price (8,000 all in). Plus if you have a problem you can get warranty repair here, which I doubt would be an option on U.S. H/W? If you do buy in the U.S. use the system for a few days to make sure its not DOA. If you decide to wait to buy here then maybe buy one controller in the U.S. as those are a bit cheaper. (FWIW: Newegg does not charge sales tax and has free shipping on Wii systems.)

[lomatopo]

I bought my Wii from Amazon for $199. The power adapter was 600 baht at MBK and I'm modding my own Wii. The walkthroughs are easy at http://www.wiihacks.com/ if you're comfortable doing it. The savings for me ends up being about $40 USD and I feel safer about buying electronics in the U.S. Saving even more if you count the controllers I purchased in the U.S. which are cheaper than here.

Thanks. FWIW, most on-line retailers are selling the basic console now for $179.99, must've just gone on sale.