Hello, I have here a Mac Mini G4, but it is a US-built model. It has an external power brick and the power plug cable (going between the power brick and the wall socket) is detachable. Apparently the power brick is dual voltage.
I need to get this to work with an Australian power point. So, my question is, what kind of cable would I need to replace this with? Would I have to get the cable from Apple? (and knowing their support policies they probably don't make them anymore). Or would I be able to use a 3rd-party cable, if so, from where?
(Yes, it is an Amiga-related question because I will be running MorphOS on it, not any of Apple's rubbish...)
Many thanks.

Please welcome Minuous to MorphZone.org. He is an Amiga 68k programmer that has had some of his software ported to MorphOS in the past, and now has his own MorphOS compatible computer, so that he can do these ports of his programs himself, which will be more reliable and consistent than asking someone else to port his code for him. It is my hope that he will enjoy using MorphOS and begin to write new native software for it.

As I wrote in my last email to you Minuous, I believe that all you need to buy to start using your G4 MacMini, is an inexpensive adapter that converts the USA style plug on your power cord, to have the correct prongs to fit it to an Australian power outlet receptacle.

There are several posts on the Internet that state that the G4 MacMini's PSU is a dual voltage device. Maybe someone else from Australia can confirm that?

Welcome to MorphZone.org! I look forward to seeing what you can do with your G4 MacMini in the months and years ahead of us.

[ Edited by amigadave 23.02.2012 - 07:33 ]

Welcome! Ebay and a google confirm the part

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-Original-APPLE-A1105-MAC-MINI-Power-AC-Adapter-85W-/330554849105?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf69ab751#ht_1105wt_1141

post them for more information on the cable!
You will enjoy your "new" Amiga

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1952265?threadID=1952265&start=0&tstart=0


[ Edited by osco 23.02.2012 - 11:03 ]

Reading through all the messages posted on the Apple support forum regarding the power bricks for MacMini's, it appears that there may be two different versions for any of the different wattage models. The ones sold in the USA appear to be 110volt to 120volt, while the ones sold in the rest of the world appear to be 110volt to 240volt 50/60Hz.

Minuous claims that there is no voltage rating on the PSU brick I sent to him with his G4 MacMini, so it might not be compatible with his power mains with just a plug adapter. His might need a voltage converter, in addition to the adapter for the plug itself.

I also noticed that some of the PSU bricks for MacMini's have removable power cords, while others are not removable. He got one of the PSU's with the removable power cords, so he was looking for a replacement cord that has the correct plug on the end of it, while I was telling him to just buy a cheap and easily found plug adapter, but now I am not so sure that his PSU is dual voltage and plugging it into the wall outlet with just a plug adapter might fry his PSU brick.

I am surprised that Apple would source two different PSU bricks for any of the MacMini's, instead of just getting all of them the same way for worldwide distribution and not having to mess with different parts for different countries, but then they still would have to deal with the different plug styles.

Anyway, if anyone else has more information about how Minuous can confirm if his PSU brick is dual voltage or not, please provide such information here. I would rather have him get the right information and not burn up his PSU brick and get a proper voltage reducing converter that can accept the USA style plug. I have such a converter here that I take with me when I travel to different countries and may need to offer to buy one here in the USA and send it to him, as all the converters in Australia will likely only have the plug styles for Australian power plugs and be the type for Australians to use their hair dryers, or device chargers in the USA and other countries, not the kind he needs to use his USA style PSU in Australia.

Hopefully I am wrong and any convenience store in Australia will have the correct adapter/converter he needs, as I am sure USA tourists forget to bring one with them all the time and need to buy them in Australia when they are there vacationing.

according to apple forums, it should be universal voltage even if displayed at 110-120v on the power block.

bigdan who got a macmini from US too iirc coud confirm that.

if it is the case, then only the removable tripolar power cable should be needed.

Yes, it's dual voltage. I just got a generic plug-adapter for the wall end of the cable and it works great. So there is now one more MorphOS user+developer in the community
Thanks to all for the help with the power issue, and special thanks to amigadave for the equipment...

Welcome!!!

Start FLYING!

Quote:

Yes, bigdan just contacted me that he had received his 1.5GHz G4 MacMini today, so he can start using it if he just buys a cheap plug adapter that allows the USA style plug to be connected to what ever style power outlet receptacles are used in France. (sorry I did not get it shipped faster bigdan)

I am looking forward to seeing Minuous port more of his software to MorphOS and improve his existing ports, now that he has his own MorphOS computer to test the ports with. Also, I am hoping that he starts enjoying the performance and features of MorphOS so much as he uses it more, that he will begin writing native software for MorphOS, and/or port software from other platforms to MorphOS.