DC power supplies - is the Pegasus Astro supply worth it?

[SiD the Turtle]

I'm looking at getting a Pegasus Powerbox Advance (when they're back in stock) and wondering how to power it. I'm fortunate enough to be using my setup primarily from the garden and I have an outdoor 3-pin socket being installed that I hope to use.

They have a branded 12v/10amp power supply but it's £60, which is way overpriced for a power adapter brick in my opinion. Here's what I think my power draw is (numbers are via Googling so could be wrong):

• HEQ5: 2 amps.
• Raspberry PI 4: 3 amps (though I don't think it draws that much unless I was to load all the USB ports)
• 2x Astrozap dew heaters: 1 amp
• ZWO ASI120MC-S guide cam: 1amp (total guess, can't find the numbers online)
• Canon 600D battery replacement: 1amp

That's a total of 8 amps, though I reckon it's closer to 5 in reality as not everything will draw max at once. The Pegasus Astro power adapter is 10 amps.

The adapter on FLO is 5 amps, I can get a variety of third party ones on eBay, Amazon etc. Am I missing something as to why the Pegasus one is so expensive? Obviously there's the quality/performance question. A cheap eBay supply might say 10 amp but might actually catch fire it it drew that much!

[MarkAR]

Sounds like a similar set up to mine. I have everything plugged into a Peg UPB V2, output to RPi, Lan cable to MacBook.

I use this one from Dew Control 

https://www.dewcontrol.com/Mains_Power_Supply_Unit_-_12V_10A/p3099125_19688635.aspx

You can get the power pole connector version but I stuck with the cigarette socket as the cable from the brick is a little short. 

[rnobleeddy]

I think the pi4 needs 5V? 

I've just used a standard 4-way adapter in a waterproof outdoor box, and then plugged in a few separate power supplies. Cheap and cheerful, but at some point will probably need something more advanced, so will see what the advice is!

[Robindonne]

I never understood the prices for these “splitters”

[Adreneline]

52 minutes ago, SiD the Turtle said:

Here's what I think my power draw is

I bought one of these which took all the guess work out of power draw estimates.

I also found my RPi4 demands 5.1 volts (it gives an on-screen warning when used with a 5V supply) - the new Pi supplied psu is 5.1 volts.

HTH

Adrian

 

[MarkAR]

For the Pi I also use the RPi's psu. Pi is mounted on the extension column. Only 2 cables moving around on the mount, one side is the power cable to the Pegasus, the other side is the USB to the Pi.

The Pi can be powered from the Pegasus variable voltage output but you have to make sure it's set to 5.1v and you will almost certainly have to make up your own cable. I believe it can also work with power from one of the Pegasus USB3 ports.

Edited September 7, 2020 by MarkAR

[SiD the Turtle]

Thanks all. Initial feedback then is a £60 brick isn't required!?

@MarkAR why do you have the Pi on its own cable? As you say it could go in the first USB3 port, which has a higher amperage than the others. Then also I think it'd deliver the required voltage.

[MarkAR]

41 minutes ago, SiD the Turtle said:

why do you have the Pi on its own cable?

I just couldn't be bothered to source a short cable and mount the Pi around the scope so used the Pi PSU. It also means with the Pi on the extension column I can connect my 250P=DS and DSLR if I wanted to. The Pegasus is a permanent fixture on my Altair 115 set up.

[Richie092]

I just use a USB port from the Pegasus to power the Pi. Works fine. 
 

I checked the other night and I was drawing 3.5 amps. Most of that was the Atik camera. Not using dew straps yet

 

I did go for the expensive power supply in the end. When you add up the cost of everything else I didn’t think it was worth skimping. 
 

The Pegasus has transformed my set up and take down times  I love it   

 

 

[rnobleeddy]

Figured I'd resurrect this rather than start a new one.

I need 3 x 12V connectors (total maybe 4A) and 2 x 5V connectors (up to 5A). 

I was thinking of https://www.amazon.co.uk/Idealyuan-Waterproof-Transformer-Adapter-Lighting/dp/B07JP15KTG?th=1 as the PSU

A couple of 12V to 5V converters (https://www.amazon.co.uk/DC-DC-Converter-Module-Output-Adapter/dp/B01G8PZS84) and some 12V splitters (eg https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Way-DC-Power-Supply-Splitter-Cable-for-12V-PSU-CCTV-Camera-DVR-Security-Kit-/182232019317).

 

Any reason why any of this would be a bad idea?

 

 

[Skipper Billy]

36 minutes ago, rnobleeddy said:

Figured I'd resurrect this rather than start a new one.

I need 3 x 12V connectors (total maybe 4A) and 2 x 5V connectors (up to 5A). 

I was thinking of https://www.amazon.co.uk/Idealyuan-Waterproof-Transformer-Adapter-Lighting/dp/B07JP15KTG?th=1 as the PSU

A couple of 12V to 5V converters (https://www.amazon.co.uk/DC-DC-Converter-Module-Output-Adapter/dp/B01G8PZS84) and some 12V splitters (eg https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Way-DC-Power-Supply-Splitter-Cable-for-12V-PSU-CCTV-Camera-DVR-Security-Kit-/182232019317).

 

Any reason why any of this would be a bad idea?

240v outside always makes me shudder. Esp. when its damp conditions.

Much better off using a 12v leisure battery - clean, quiet safe power. Truly portable.

[rnobleeddy]

1 hour ago, Skipper Billy said:

240v outside always makes me shudder. Esp. when its damp conditions.

Much better off using a 12v leisure battery - clean, quiet safe power. Truly portable.

Power is the least of my portability issues unfortunately! 

I have no intention of dying either, but I thought running an extension was pretty common? I've got already got an outdoor extension cable, proper waterproof box where I plug stuff in, and an RCD on the plug socket it all plugs into.