Telescope Reviews: 12V Power Supply Recommendation

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Equipment Discussions >> Observatories

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gbarolak
super member

Reged: 12/10/06

Loc: Houston, TX

12V Power Supply Recommendation
#4840171 - 10/02/11 08:36 PM

I'm looking for a 12V power supply with approx 15 amp output capaility. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

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Mary B
Vendor - Echo Astronomy and Electronics

Reged: 05/21/10

Loc: Minnesota

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: gbarolak]
#4840586 - 10/03/11 12:59 AM

Samlex SEC1223

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Lorence
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/15/08

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: gbarolak]
#4841475 - 10/03/11 01:59 PM

I got a big one out of an old Recreational Vehicle that was being wrecked. They all have dual voltage electrical systems. Look around, there may be an RV graveyard in your area.

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frolinmod
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/06/10

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: Lorence]
#4842429 - 10/03/11 10:15 PM

Considering your equipment list, you don't need to be scraping the bottom of the barrel or looking for junk yard pulls.

I second Mary's suggestion. She has recommended a very good power supply.

For just a few bucks more you could even get a Samlex SEC-1235M.

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Mary B
Vendor - Echo Astronomy and Electronics

Reged: 05/21/10

Loc: Minnesota

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: frolinmod]
#4842749 - 10/04/11 02:17 AM

I use the 1235m in the observatory and in the house forthe ham radio gear. I fail to understand scrimping on a power supply that may be powering thousands of dollars in astronomy gear. I want good protection against overvoltage etc.

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mich_al
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 05/10/09

Loc: Rural central lower Michigan ...

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: Mary B]
#4842883 - 10/04/11 06:48 AM

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_sq_top?ie=UTF8&keywords=pyramid%20power%20supply&index=blended&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0002BA57A&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0KMMHE7HM4W9TWCXA2T0

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Lorence
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/15/08

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: frolinmod]
#4843602 - 10/04/11 02:03 PM

Quote:

Considering your equipment list, you don't need to be scraping the bottom of the barrel or looking for junk yard pulls.

I second Mary's suggestion. She has recommended a very good power supply.

For just a few bucks more you could even get a Samlex SEC-1235M.

Keep in mind a big power supply will deliver more than enough to fry the workings of your setup. Make sure you have the proper fusing in place. I've seen a few explosions caused by something taking more than it is capable of handling. It's usually a messy chore to replace something that's burnt out.

One does have to be careful in the junkyards. You might find a treasure or you might find couple of big dogs.

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frolinmod
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/06/10

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: Lorence]
#4844956 - 10/05/11 10:44 AM

Quote:

Make sure you have the proper fusing in place.

I like the nicely fused West Mountain Radio "RIGrunner" power distribution boxes found here or here.

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Mary B
Vendor - Echo Astronomy and Electronics

Reged: 05/21/10

Loc: Minnesota

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: frolinmod]
#4845452 - 10/05/11 03:23 PM

I use the rigrunner out on the pier. Good power supplies have all kinds of protection built in so less chance of over voltage problems or spikes frying anything.

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Tom and Beth
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/08/07

Loc: Tucson, AZ

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: gbarolak]
#4854912 - 10/10/11 10:46 PM Attachment (14 downloads)

I use an Acopian power supply picked up off Ebay. The hardest part about it is downloading the Acopian Spec that translates the model number into the Watts/Amps/tolerance and fault protection build. Once you have that Rosetta Stone it's easy to find exactly what you are looking for.

Edited by Tom and Beth (10/10/11 10:48 PM)

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andyschlei
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/05/06

Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: Tom and Beth]
#4855004 - 10/11/11 12:03 AM

I've got a good Samlex and a Radio Shack. Make sure it's regulated!

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LoveChina61
sage

Reged: 06/20/09

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: Mary B]
#4855112 - 10/11/11 02:08 AM

Would powering everything by 12v also provide an extra layer of protection against non-direct lightning strikes e.g. where the electrical surge has traveled a long way via the ground?

If so, is that one of the main reasons that most of you have chosen to power that way?

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mclewis1
Thread Killer

Reged: 02/25/06

Loc: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: LoveChina61]
#4855443 - 10/11/11 10:06 AM

AC to DC power supplies do provide an additional level of protection from a variety of electrical problems. There are two general types or designs of power supplies, linear or switching. Linear design power supplies supply some isolation but often also have a common ground which can sometimes provide a path for high voltage spikes. Switching supplies are usually only coupled via specialized transformers and can usually only provide a path for high voltage if the internals of the transformer breaks down and shorts (rare). So while both are good at providing protection from spikes if you are worried about it the switching designs are a bit better choice.

Since most telescope gear runs off of 12v DC (or some lower voltages) it's quite easy to provide a good solid 12v and then drop it down for the other required voltages. If you use good quality supplies there is also less electrical noise floating around than if you use a lot of smaller AC to DC power supplies (wall warts and the like). Reducing electrical noise can be important if you are imaging or using video observing gear.

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Snaproll
Postmaster

Reged: 02/20/04

Loc: Green Bay

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: gbarolak]
#4856847 - 10/12/11 12:01 AM

Quote:

I'm looking for a 12V power supply with approx 15 amp output capaility. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Didn't have enough time to read all the posts, but Radio Shack makes the exact thing, 12 volts (more like 14 if I remember) and 15 AMPS for like 60 bucks, something like that.

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frolinmod
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/06/10

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: Snaproll]
#4856965 - 10/12/11 02:08 AM

Quote:

Didn't have enough time to read all the posts, but Radio Shack makes the exact thing, 12 volts (more like 14 if I remember) and 15 AMPS for like 60 bucks, something like that.

Radio Shack power supplies:

Long ago and far away when I was young and naive I purchased a power supply from Radio Shack. In my defense, it was the pre-Internet age when one couldn't easily research such things online. No Google. I had to learn my lesson the hard way. Needless to say, I never did that again. Please save yourself some grief and avoid Radio Shack power supplies. YMMV.

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Hilmi
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 03/07/10

Loc: Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: frolinmod]
#4857014 - 10/12/11 03:21 AM

I have found that radio shack equipment is not consistent, some items are of superbly high quality while others are so shoddy you can tell it wont last from the moment you lay your eyes on it.

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johne
sage

Reged: 11/10/06

Loc: Prescott, AZ.

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: Hilmi]
#4857204 - 10/12/11 09:24 AM

I guess everyone's milage may vary with Radio Shack. However, for me, I've had nothing but quality products from my local Radio Shack. I have used their 12v regulated power supply to charge Li-Ion batteries for R/C planes for years and I currently have a Radio Shack 12v regulated power supply on my mount that is powering my cooled CentralDS 5DMk2. No problems experienced with either.

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Snaproll
Postmaster

Reged: 02/20/04

Loc: Green Bay

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: frolinmod]
#4858284 - 10/12/11 08:39 PM

Radio Shack power supplies:

To each his own. I've had my existing one since 2005 and no issues. Come to think of it I had it before my observatory and never had a problem with it, even out in the winter and heavy dew. Maybe the quality has gone down since then, but absolutely no complaints on mine.

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avarakin
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 07/13/09

Loc: Parsippany NJ, USA

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: gbarolak]
#4880678 - 10/26/11 01:47 AM

PC power suppy. I bought one today for $15, it gives 22A on 12v rail.

Alex

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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/13/08

Loc: Cedar Park, TX

Re: 12V Power Supply Recommendation new

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[Re: avarakin]
#4888812 - 10/30/11 03:39 PM

Quote:

PC power suppy. I bought one today for $15, it gives 22A on 12v rail.

Alex

You just have to be very careful about switching power supplies; especially cheap multi-voltage ones. Many are designed with 5 and 12V supplies ganged together on the same switching circuit and thus can only regulate one supply. That's usually the 5V supply, which means the 12V supply can swing radically based on the 5V current draw. Some switching supplies won't work at all without a good 5V load. Just make sure you test and confirm what your PC supply is doing BEFORE you plug all your expensive scope stuff into it. That said, I use a PC supply for my camera cooler. Turned out great as I was able to use the 5V standby circuit to power a microcontroller that served as my temperature sensor. That in turn connects to the power-on line and switches the entire supply on or off to regulate temperature. Easier than adding a separate FET and heat sink!

Beo

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