Rechargeable Power Packs & Power Supplies

13.8 Volt - 5 amp Regulated Power Supply with Cigarette Lighter Receptacle (PS138V5A)
15 Volt - 10 Amp Regulated Power Supply with Cigarette Lighter Plug Adapter Cord (PS15V10AC)

POWER REQUIREMENTS

BATTERY
We recommend, as a minimum, that a 12 volt, 12 amp hour rechargeable battery be used for all of our mounts.

If you are planning to use your own battery, it is recommended that a deep-cycle battery be used. The battery should be dedicated for the mount only for optimum performance. Accessories should be powered from an additional battery whenever possible.

POWER SUPPLIES
If you are using household current, it must be transformed to between 11.5 and 18 volts DC (12.5 v to 16 v recommended) and your transformer must be rated for the amp requirements of your system : if your system draws 1.5 amps, then your transformer must be rated for at least 1.5 amps. We recommend a 5 amp rating as a minimum for all of our current GTO mounts. Again, it is a good idea to have the mount operate on a dedicated power supply and power your accessories from an additional supply. It isn't that your Astro-Physics mount is a power-hungry monster.  It’s that other accessories - esp. dew heaters can really cause some major short term voltage fluctuations and can draw significant amounts of current.

In extremely cold climates it is recommended that you keep your power supply in a heated environment when not in use or warm it up a bit before turning it on. Once it is operating, it will generate enough internal heat to function at full strength well below its rated lowest temperature. Turning the unit on when its components are below the rated temperature is not recommended. Keep in mind that power supplies are not really designed for outdoor use. Fortunately, we don't observe in the rain, so it normally isn't a problem for us to use these devices outdoors. However, keep in mind that power supplies are not waterproof or double insulated. They should not be left outside exposed to the elements. For safety, we recommend plugging these units into a GFCI protected circuit.

Note to our customers: Kendrick Astro Instruments is no longer selling their battery packs through their dealer network. Kendrick Battery Packs must now be purchased directly from Kendrick. Astro-Physics is currently searching for a replacement for the Kendrick 18 amp hour battery pack to add to our product line. Your understanding is appreciated.

13.8 VOLT - 5 AMP REGULATED POWER SUPPLY WITH CIGARETTE LIGHTER RECEPTACLE (PS138V5A)

For individuals wanting to use household current, we have a 115 volt AC converter that puts out 13.8v DC at 5 amps. This voltage regulated unit should serve most users' needs. It has protection circuitry to guard your valuable equipment. It is not recommended for extremely cold climates where a higher voltage is needed for satisfactory mount performance. If you are powering several devices like dew heaters, cameras and motorized focusers, we would advise you to have one converter dedicated to the mount only, and one or more for your accessories.

Input: 105 to 125 volt 60 Hz AC
Output: 13.8 (+/- 0.3) volt DC; 5 amp continuous, 7 amp peak
Output Ripple: 150 mV RMS
Operating Temp. 32° F (0° C) to 104° F (40° C)
3 1/4 H x 4 7/8 W x 7 1/4 D; 5 1/2 lbs.

For those of you travelling internationally: According to Pyramid, you MUST transform 220 volt 50 Hz current to 115 volts before using this power supply. They say it will operate at the proper voltage at either 50 or 60 Hz, but at 50 Hz AC input, the unit will provide slightly less amperage. We have not tested this assertion from Pyramid.


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15 VOLT - 10 AMP LOAD REGULATED POWER SUPPLY WITH CIGARETTE LIGHTER PLUG ADAPTER CORD (PS15V10AC)

 

For those of you in cold climates, or for 1200 owners with large loads, this is the power converter of choice. This unit is custom made in the U.S. for Astro-Physics and converts standard 120 volt AC household current to 15 volts (+/- 0.05 volts) at 10 amps. This rugged supply is a solid-state electronically-regulated power source with built in protection circuitry that safeguards both the power supply and the connected equipment. Its ripple spec is less than 5 mV peak to peak at full load. If you are powering other accessories, you may still consider a second converter, either the smaller one above or a second one of these, but it probably won't be necessary unless it is extremely cold and you have quite a few power hungry devices.

Please note: the fuse for this power supply is cleverly hidden above the AC plug on the back of the unit. It is actually a part of the plug receptacle. The AC power cord must be unplugged from the unit to change the fuse.

This power converter comes with a lighter plug adapter cord (CABPS15) for connection with your mount's power cable.

Input: 105 to 125 volt 60 Hz AC
Output: 15 (+/- 0.05) volt DC; 7 amp continuous, 10 amp intermittent (up to 5 minutes), 11.5 amp peak
Output Ripple: 5 mV RMS
Operating Temp. 14° F (-10° C) to 131° F (55° C)
4 3/8 H x 7 1/2 W x 10 5/8 D; 12 lbs.

For those of you travelling internationally: According to the manufacturer, you MUST transform 220 volt 50 Hz current to 115 volts before using this power supply. They say it will operate at the proper voltage at either 50 or 60 Hz, but at 50 Hz AC input, the unit will provide slightly less amperage. We have not tested this assertion from the manufacturer.

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This page was last modified: September 11, 2009

Astro-Physics, Inc.
11250 Forest Hills Road, Machesney Park, IL  61115, U.S.A.
Phone: 815-282-1513   Fax: 815-282-9847