Hello, Got my AM5 "N" version and I'm really pleased with the new USB C port on the saddle ! Unfortunately, it does not come with the cable that can power the ASIAIR also from the saddle, so before I go for it, has someone tested it? Do you think it could power an ASIAIR mini connected to : - 2 dew resistances - ASI2600 MC - ASI224MC I spent hours trying to find the answer, but as my father always says, better one who knows than two searching  I know it is only 3A, but I have no skill in electricity to know if it will work. If someone was able to test it, reviews would be nice for everybody! With the detail of what equipment was plugged in the asiair… Clear skies!
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
I’m guessing it’ll be fine. That said, it all depends on the power supply. The ZWO power supply is listed at 12V 5A. When I bought my AM5, I had read that it was a good idea to run the mount off that and get a better power supply for the asiair + gear.
I bought a 12v 10A “astro” labelled power supply and ran it to the asiair. That’s when the problems started. Apparently the “astro” power supply sags as soon as you start drawing over 1 amp. Like getting below 11V at a 3 amp draw.
I ended up putting the ZWO power supply back to the asiair and haven’t had a viltage problem since. It stays at ~12v even with a 4 amp draw. With a USB dew heater, an eaf, filter wheel and a cooled camera, I’m usually under 3 amps.
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
  With both cameras and the Asi Mini you should be fine! What are the specifications of the dew heaters? ASI2600MC: around 2A ASIAIR MINI: around 0.21A ASI224MC: Im not sure about the camera, but my 120MM mini takes 0.1 = 2.31A 0.69A are left for the dew heaters. If they draw much more, you should use a second power supply. Make sure the power supply is supplying at least 5A at 12V!
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
Armin Lukas:
With both cameras and the Asi Mini you should be fine! What are the specifications of the dew heaters?
ASI2600MC: around 2A
ASIAIR MINI: around 0.21A
ASI224MC: Im not sure about the camera, but my 120MM mini takes 0.1
= 2.31A
0.69A are left for the dew heaters. If they draw much more, you should use a second power supply. Make sure the power supply is supplying at least 5A at 12V! Hello Armin, They are omegon dew heaters, they fit redcat51 and uniguide32 so there are quite small.. i could not find the specs! Then it’s worth buying the cable! Can’t wait to see if it works, that would mean the only « loose » cable would be the one connected to the AM5N  Thanks for your answer !
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
I actually have a Redcat 71, AM5, ASI2600MM Pro, ASI220MM Mini, Two Dew heaters and the ASIair, all powered with no issue using the linked below pegasus power supply. You can easily buy a DC to USB-C conversion tip if you so choose. In addition just so you know DewControl.com and Astro-Smart.com make custom sized and custom cable length (and connection) dew heaters. Very reasonably priced. The Dew Heater for my Redcat OTA cost me 60 shipped to my door and connects directly to the ASIair. https://agenaastro.com/pegasus-astro-12v-10a-power-supply-unit-2-1mm-connector-plug-ppb.htmlArmin Lukas:
With both cameras and the Asi Mini you should be fine! What are the specifications of the dew heaters?
ASI2600MC: around 2A
ASIAIR MINI: around 0.21A
ASI224MC: Im not sure about the camera, but my 120MM mini takes 0.1
= 2.31A
0.69A are left for the dew heaters. If they draw much more, you should use a second power supply. Make sure the power supply is supplying at least 5A at 12V!
Hello Armin,
They are omegon dew heaters, they fit redcat51 and uniguide32 so there are quite small.. i could not find the specs!
Then it’s worth buying the cable! Can’t wait to see if it works, that would mean the only « loose » cable would be the one connected to the AM5N
Thanks for your answer !
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
ZWO have confirmed that the outlet on the AM5N saddle, like the one on the side of the AM5, is capable of 5A throughput…
It would be a pretty useless addition to their mount if it couldn't power an ASIAIR, 6200MM, filter wheel, eaf, 2x dew heaters, guide camera etc…
If they released the mount, incapable of powering their own ecosystem, what's even the point of the thing.
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
Personally, I am not convinced here. It propably works well most of the time. But I've seen a lot of occasional problems in my setups that almost every time were related to power supply problems. If you look just at the specs, the current ratings might be ok. But just some days ago, it was a hot summer night, I got into trouble. It all came together. The cooler of the camera was running nearly at 100%. The dew heaters were working, although they are not at a 100%. Then I tried to slew the mount to my target and I hit the limits of my setup. I was not able to get images from the camera, although everything worked fine before I started the sequence. I restarted the whole setup 3 times (including cutting the mains power) and tried to get it running. It didn't work. So I switched it off. The next night temperatures were cooler and everything was working as nothing had ever happened.
I could tell some more stories like that. I use a power supply for this setup with a higher amp spec than I would ever need. So I thought I was safe. But there is another problem. USB3 is rated for usually 1 amp. On some ports, it can deliver even more. If the mount can deliver 3 amps, then it's fine. But the limiting factor might be the cable. If you use a standard usb cable to deleiver 3 amps, your voltage drops and you might get problems. These cables are usually made to be safe at 1 amp. The ASI air is based on a raspberry Pi or at least the ARM processors that are avalable these days. Although it might need only about 0,5A in average, there are spikes when it need much more than that. It will need it for ms only, but it will need it. And it will need it even if your cooler is working hard and the dew heaters are doing their job. And you have to put all that current for your dew heaters, cameras (with coolers), etc. through that one small wire of the USB cable. That can be really problematic.
I assume, like in my case, it works most of the time really well. But as soon as the conditions get different from the average (either cold, wet, hot, etc.) then you might occasionally get into trouble and it drives you crazy to find out what's the problem. I had this for years until I rebuild my whole power consumption part of all of my three setups including all the cables. They work for two years now without any issue. The only one I didn't change yet was the one that failed a few nights ago.
I see a lot of questions in the forum about problems transferring data from cameras, occasional problems with other equipment and much more. I think many of them are related to the power supply or the wire gauge of the cables, although this is not obvious.
We are working in extreme conditions sometimes. Personally, I would never trust all the power running through a single USB cable again (as I did before). I highly recommend to power the mount and then use a second source or cable to power the ASI air. We are not talking about investing in a new telescope. We are only talking about a few bucks for another cable or a second power supply. This is nothing compared to other equipment we use. In my opinion, you will get enough trouble with your equipment at some point. So make sure, you may solve them the easiest way possible and remove the power consumption from the list of causes as soon as possible. You might upgrade your scope with larger heaters etc. With 3A from the mount or the ASI air, you are on the edge anyway.
To summarize this:
It might work well most of the time. But I highly recommend not to use a power chain like that.
Clear Skies
Christian
Edit: USB-C plugs have very small contacts. For chargers, they sometimes use serveral contacts and wires in parallel to make sure the current can be delivered to the device that needs it. But these cables are expensive. If you go this route anyway, you should really be careful how the cable is made if you buy one of them. Don't buy cheap ones!
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
@Christian Großmann thanks for your experience sharing ! I' may have not be very clear in my first post : My idea is to power supply the mount with a 12V 5A (from a 220V adaptor) on the principal power plug (not on the saddle) and then use the DC power on the saddle of the AM5N to power the AsiAir, then the ASIair powers the rest (cameras, dew heaters...). To be clearer, here is a wonderfull paint drawing of what I want to do  |
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
Alex Nicholas:
ZWO have confirmed that the outlet on the AM5N saddle, like the one on the side of the AM5, is capable of 5A throughput...
It would be a pretty useless addition to their mount if it couldn't power an ASIAIR, 6200MM, filter wheel, eaf, 2x dew heaters, guide camera etc...
If they released the mount, incapable of powering their own ecosystem, what's even the point of the thing. Hello Alex, Thanks for the info! that means it should be fine ! I just wonder why they did not include the that cable to the AM5... the plug on the saddle is not a 2.1mm x 5.5mm, so the cables in the ASIAIR won't fit either.. Do you have any idea what should be the specs for this cable between the saddle DC and the ASIAIR? 5A I guess
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
I imaged with my new AM5 a couple of days ago. I ran the power supply to the mount and then the asiair off the mount from the sadde connector. I ran my asi6200mc — cooled to -10c — and guide camera off the ASIAIR. Everything worked flawlessly
ZWO don’t usually include power cables for whatever reason. I picked up a 12v 5a adapter from Amazon that works really well. I also picked up an Apertura battery that comes with every power cable you could ever want
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
@masslessparticleHello, thanks for sharing your experience ! OK you convinced me Do you mind sharing the link of the cable on amazon? I'm afraid I'll buy the wrong one if not. Cannot find the specs for the DC type plug on the saddle... Thanks in advance, Clear skies
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
OK, this might be a better solution. But I still think, that 3A is still a bit on the low side. If on one of my setup both dew heaters are on and the camera is cooling a lot, I hit about 2,7 amps average. For your current equipment this might work. But as soon as you see odd things try to power the ASI air from a seperate power supply.
The main reason I'm concerned is the ASI air itself. The Raspberry 4 power supply is rated with 2.4 amps minimum. In average it runs with much less. I used one some years ago with the astroberry software to do all the imaging with it. The ASI air should work nearly the same. My Raspberry occasionally switched of in the middle of the night. I lost a lot of data this way. After a long analysis I found the problem in the power supply. I used a 2A one and it worked most of the time but without powering additional eqipment. So it might be approximatly the same as your 3A. But it did fail occasionally. Because the ASI air is a similar hardware and you even power the dew heaters and the camera from it, I still think you might have issues.
But I know it's up to you. Just be careful!
|
You cannot like this item. Reason: "ANONYMOUS".
You cannot remove your like from this item.
Editing a post is only allowed within 24 hours after creating it.
You cannot Like this post because the topic is closed.
Copy the URL below to share a direct link to this post.
This post cannot be edited using the classic forums editor.
To edit this post, please enable the "New forums experience" in your settings.
