Homemade pier power/USB & dew heater hub

[George]

In my quest to tidy the rats nest of wiring & numerous PSU's that have infested my pier I've housed everything in a tidy hub.

Here's a sneak peek

I'll be finishing the soldering this weekend then I'll post some images of it powered up on the pier.

The hub consists of the following:

2 x Dew heater ports with 3 separate channels on each port with a maximum of 5amps per port draw.

1 x 12v DC port for my electric focuser

1 x 7.4v DC port for my DSLR

10 USB2 powered ports

Parts used:

2 x Como speed regulators used as the PWM controllers £13.04 each

1 x 10 port hub that I got off Ebay £5.98

All the hardware, switches, LEDS etc were from bits box £9.00

The project box I had lying around but there are many on EBAY

Total cost minus the speed regulators which I got free from an abandoned project at work was £14.98

You could also use Velleman K8004 for your PWM's or there are many PWM circuits if you google, one I've used in the past and cost pennies if your good with a soldering iron is this one.

Hope you like my efforts

[Black Knight]

That looks really cool. You should market it

[starship trooper]

Love the power station any chance of a pic of the internals also what are the pots for do they control the heater temps.

Cheers dazz

[malc-c]

Looks really cool, I too would be interested in the internals.. looking at doing something myself for my obsy

[starship trooper]

hi also can the usb hub you got be use on window 7 os.

cheers

[Psychobilly]

Looks good.. a cautionary tale about comodrill pwm controllers...

They switch the output on the ground side so make sure you isolate the phono sockets - A plastic box is great.. if your using a metal box then you need to make some insulating bushes ... had me scratching my head for a few mins when I bulit my first dew controller using a pair of them...

Peter...

[starship trooper]

Just wondering can you have a power and an earth coming off of one phone socket or do u need two phone sockets. Cheers dazz

[red dwalf]

looks a great idea, i`m always impressed by the skills of some of the folk on this site, i wouldn`t know where to start.

hats off to you

[yesyes]

Just wondering can you have a power and an earth coming off of one phone socket or do u need two phone sockets. Cheers dazz

Yes, they are 2 pole; outer ring GND and inner pin 12V.

[beamish]

Yet again George you have not failed to impress with your skills

Love it

[starship trooper]

Yes, they are 2 pole; outer ring GND and inner pin 12V.

Thanks yesyes

[Coco]

Superb... love it!!

[Psychobilly]

Yes, they are 2 pole; outer ring GND and inner pin 12V.

Yep but use a plastic box... if your using a pair of commo drill speed controllers... and dont common all the outer's ...

[dc509]

Very nicely made - would love to see the innards

d