I read on here some discussion about the strict voltage requirements for the WD-20. It was said (I think) by WarpAstron’s support that the mount could be damaged if it is powered by more than 12Vdc. In my case I wanted to use a regulated 10 amp power supply but it delivers 13.8 Vdc. So I will have to get into my power supplies guts in hope there is a voltage trim pot that I can adjust to drop its voltage down to the required 12 Vdc. If not I will have to go on the hunt to find one that fits the requirements.
It seems odd to me however that this mount has such a stringent voltage requirement, and that spec is not directly stated in the literature that comes with the mount. Also that spec should be very evident on their website to give prospective customers time to source such a power supply.
I suspect WarpAstron may be overly cautious with such a strict spec but better to be safe than sorry.
It should be noted by this mounts owners that when sourcing a power supply look for one that stipulates a full load output of 12Vdc, many PS’s have a different no load vs full load voltage spec.
I am glad that I ran across that discussion on Discord. That is what WarpAstron support says. I was going to use a Pyramid power supply (13.8v) to run my WD-20. I can still do that but I will run the power from the Pyramid to a Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance. It has a regulated variable voltage output port that can do 3, 5, 8, 9, or 12v…
JohnD
I have not sorted my power supply issue yet, I also plan to use a Pyramid 12 Amp dc PS but it’s output is also 13.8 Vdc, so I plan to get me one of these from Amazon and wire it into the PS case to give me stable 12 Vdc.
In my case being in Canada you may have to fudge this link:
Note you might see an equivalent buck converter that’s even cheaper if you look around, just be sure it can handle the current, in my case 12 amps. I plan to use this one PS to power everything from the mount up, dew heaters etc take a lot of power.
Update about the dc to dc buck converter, apparently it needs a three volt differential to work. That means with a PS output of 13.8 volts the converter can only reach 10.8 volts! Therefore of no use in this case. I didn’t know about this requirement when I ordered the module as it wasn’t mentioned on the Amazon spec. There may be other modules with better spec , maybe?
I have not done amateur radio for decades. The 13.8 volt (12v) voltage spec is a legacy thing. It is the voltage of a freshly charged 12V lead acid battery, the only source capable of driving some high power transmitters. When solid state power supplies came on the market, they used that as their ceiling too, giving them 30% more power than regular 12v.
I will see what the Pegasus outputs today. There is no mention in the manual of the details.
I just fed a Pegasus UPBV3 with 13 volts. I tested the buck voltages on its 3-12 and 12-24 outputs, both set at ‘12’. The 3-12 read 12.24 and the 12-24 read 12.7.
I think I will use the 3-12. It is limited at 3A but I don’t slew around at max speed, and have some counterweights, so it should be ok.
Hi Y’all,
Well I did some testing of my Tripp-Lite 14 amp “regulated” PS, there is no sticker on it anywhere stating what it’s output voltage should be, but at no load it measures 14.1Vdc, and I tested it at a couple of loads using power resistors and as the loads increased the output voltages dropped, (no surprise there). So at 6.5 amps load the output voltage measures at 12.4 Vdc, which is within spec but only at that load.
At the moment I have my mount connected to a separate 3.5 amp “12Vdc” PS that does actually measure at 12 Vdc, no load, in case Warp Astron’s warning of “do not supply more than 12.5 Vdc to mount” has some truth attached to that. My Tripp-Lite 14 amp PS that I want to use to power everything on my setup powers all else. I’m not sure what I’ll do going forward, I may have to purchase a new PS with a regulated 12Vdc spec., I don’t want to chance the warranty on my mount, so I’ll continue to use the two PS’s for the present time until I sort this mess out. Thanks to all who commented on this topic.
I would not call that a regulated power supply and in your shoes I would not use it.
I bought a MeanWell 12V 12.5A power module and a plastic IP65 box from Amazon. The mains lead goes in through a waterproof gland and I use a sealed DC connector for output. They came in under £40. The box is generous so the supply has some breathing space. It becomes only mildly warm in use. Its load regulation and efficiency are excellent. There is a trim pot on the module that goes from 11 to 13.5 V.
This manufacturer is one of the better and is supplied by professional retailers like RS and Farnell and is used by some European mount manufacturers.
If you make one up, it is a good idea to have it checked out by a qualified electrician.
I guess using one of many lithium power stations that are now popular is out of the question unless you purchase a AC/DC power converter that’s rated 12v and plug it into an inverter receptacle on the power station. When I put a multimeter on my Bluetti EB 55 5.5x2.1mm 12v DC ports it shows 13.4v.
Skywatcher states the range for their strain wave, 12v - 16v, same for EQ6-R.
iOptron ships a AC/DC converter rated 12v at 5amps with their mounts. I have sent an email to iOptron about using these popular lithium power supplies with their mounts.
Good Day - I’m concerned about the power supply discussions (like everyone), and have been requested by my dealer Astronomy Plus Montreal to supply where WarpAstron specifically state the maximum power supply requirements. I’ve not been successful in identifying the source.
I’ve just received the mount (no unboxing yet - until I’ve gotten verification by the dealer I am covered and/or what they suggest is the right method to address this).
I’ve been using a Jackery 1000 with my AP/ZWO/EQ6R Pro with no issues. Before I unbox this mount I truly want to get confirmation, I’m not going to screw this up.
Thank you,
jim
Hi,
You can check the specification of Jackery DC output port for double confirming, normally these power banks provide 12v or 12.6v DC output.
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Outdoor portable power stations like Jackery and EcoFlow, These power supplies use lithium batteries as their energy source, but both their DC and AC inverter outputs are regulated to ensure stable voltage. They normally provide a DC 5.5*2.5mm output port, voltage and current capability clearly marked on the interface and manual.
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A standard DC 12V power supply will typically have voltage fluctuations of no more than 5%, and certainly will not exceed 13V. High-quality DC power supplies maintain the voltage around 12V, even under high load and current conditions, with minimal voltage drop. WarpAstron mounts are designed to handle normal voltage fluctuations and will operate correctly as long as the voltage does not exceed 13V.
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It is important to note that the lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries mentioned are the cells used in outdoor power stations. These types of batteries often do not have a built-in voltage regulation circuit, and the voltage can fluctuate significantly depending on the battery charge level. Using these types of cells directly could result in unstable power delivery.
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A quick way to verify the quality of your power supply is to check the specifications on the label or manual. The output voltage and current should be clearly indicated on the interface. For example, a laptop power adapter might specify “DC 19V 3A,” which indicates a regulated output with a maximum current capacity. On the other hand, if a power supply shows a voltage range like 11-16V, it is usually not a regulated output.
WarpAstron Support Team
Thank you WarpAstron for the quick response. Looking forward to setting WD-20 up for the weekend.
Jim
Jackery’s response to me was to recommend the following power-stations
Explorer 1000Plus: https://www.jackery.com/products/jackery-explorer-1000-plus-portable-power-station
Explorer 1000V2: https://www.jackery.com/products/jackery-explorer-1000-v2
Explorer 2000V2: https://www.jackery.com/products/jackery-explorer-2000-v2-portable-power-station